The results of the Bihar Assembly elections are expected on November 10
New Delhi / Patna:
Nitish Kumar will bow to Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition alliance’s top cabinet candidate, once the results of the Bihar election are announced on November 10, LJP’s Chirag Paswan said on Thursday, attacking the minister in chief for his “greed for power” and his desire to remain the top post.
“The same prime minister that you (Nitish Kumar) never got tired of arguing or criticizing … today you are happy to share a scene with him and bow to him as he asks votes for you? It shows your greed for power and the post of chief minister. After November 10, you will bow to Tejashwi Yadav, “said Chirag Paswan, quoted by ANI news agency.
The comments come as the opposition sharpens its claws ahead of the third and final phase of the poll, which is scheduled for Saturday. The results of the three-phase election are expected on Tuesday.
In his commentary, Mr. Paswan referred to the ideological contradictions between Nitish Kumar and the BJP government at the center on issues such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Section 370. Nitish Kumar spoke out. ‘initially opposed to the latter before offering the support of his government and, yesterday, struck at the comments of the chief minister of the UP Yogi Adityanath on the CAA.
This is not the first time Mr Paswan has suggested that Nitish Kumar’s JDU might be ready to sever ties with the BJP and rally with Lalu Yadav’s RJD – three years after abandoning them to join the BJP and the NDA – in order to remain Power.
On October 28, as Bihar was voting in the first phase, he tweeted: “He (Nitish Kumar) made preparations to leave the BJP and join the RJD after the elections.”
Today, Paswan also criticized the chief minister for his “weakness” and inability to ensure the development of Bihar, despite being in power for 15 years and his government with the center as an ally – a comment considered a reference to the “dual engine government” model presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his campaign speeches as a secure gateway to growth for the state.
“You are the weakest chief minister. You cannot work alone … cannot ensure the development of the state. Only have excuses that the center will see or someone else will see… if everyone wants to do the job then why are you in that chair? ”Mr. Paswan asked.
The LJP leader, who criticized Nitish Kumar for soliciting votes based on work done by the BJP and not his party, broke ranks with the ruling JDU-BJP alliance ahead of this election and is challenging the polls independently.
Mr Paswan – who has targeted Nitish Kumar to a point where the cracks in the Chief Minister’s already fragile relationship with the BJP have started to widen – insists his party remains a member of the BJP-led NDA in the center.
Chirag Paswan, who has made no secret of his chief ministerial ambition, hopes his tactics will net the LJP enough seats to emerge as an alternative route to power for the BJP as he seeks to retain power in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar faces a strong anti-charge wave after 15 years of responsibility.
On Tuesday, after voting in the second round of the ballot, Mr Paswan said he “could give in writing” that Nitish Kumar will never be chief minister again. The LJP leader downplayed his role in forming the government, saying his only interest was “Bihar first, Bihari first” – a reference to his party’s manifesto for this election.
“You can have me tell you in writing that Nitish Kumar will never be the chief minister again after November 10. I will have no role to play, I want ‘Bihar first, Bihari first’ … “he told ANI.
With the contribution of ANI
