Nitish Kumar’s party JDU won 43 seats in Bihar election (File)
New Delhi:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has clarified his recent remark on the “last elections”, saying he is not retiring in the near future and that his comment has been misinterpreted.
“I didn’t talk about retirement … I always say the same thing at the last rally in every election that”ant bhala to sab bhala ‘‘ (all’s well That ends well). If you listen to the speech both ways, it will be clear, ”he told ANI news agency.
Mr Kumar, while campaigning for candidate Janata Dal United in Bihar’s Purnia earlier this month, said: “This is the last day of the elections. The day after this election will end and it is my last election. Ant bhala to sab bhala (All’s well That ends well).”
Mr. Kumar’s ally-turned-rival, Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD, responded to the announcement with skepticism. The party shared a former clip of the chief minister in which it announces to the BJP, “Rahein ya mitti mein mil jayenge, aap logon ke saath koi samjhauta nahin hoga (whether or not I happen, a partnership with you is out of the question). This chapter is closed “.
Shortly after giving this speech, Mr. Kumar, in 2017, abandoned Lalu Yadav’s party and joined the National Democratic Alliance.
“Look at his dialogue! Have you seen a man with less morality and less principle?” Mr Yadav tweeted earlier this month, in response to Mr Kumar’s remark that many critics said was an election gimmick.
Nitish Kumar’s change of loyalty, meanwhile, has not borne fruit. In the Bihar assembly elections, he conceded the status of main partner of the alliance to the BJP, his party being able to win only 43 seats against 74 won by the team led by JP Nadda.
The RJD, led by Tejashwi Yadav, 31 in his father’s absence, became the largest party with 75 seats.
On Thursday, Mr Kumar said the decision on the next chief minister would be taken by the NDA, saying the matter would be reconsidered despite previous assurances from the BJP that he would retain the post.
