Patna (Bihar) [India], April 16: Janata Dal (United) leader Neeraj Kumar launched a sharp rebuttal to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday, following the latter’s claim that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been “hijacked.”
Responding to Tejashwi’s comments, Kumar questioned the RJD leader’s political and personal commitment. “Who hijacked Lalu Prasad Yadav? Tejashwi Yadav went to meet his father in the ICU after 300 hours. Has he become defunct? If so, relieve him of his post. Politics moves wherever Nitish Kumar gazes—this is the belief of Bihar’s people,” Neeraj Kumar told ANI.
The JD(U) leader also addressed recent remarks made by Nishant Kumar, Nitish Kumar’s son, who stated that his father would continue as Chief Minister after the next Bihar Assembly elections. Neeraj Kumar dubbed the comment a “masterstroke” that forced Tejashwi back into the political spotlight.
“Nishant Kumar didn’t even say he was joining politics, yet his statement pulled Tejashwi Yadav back into the pavilion of politics,” Kumar quipped.
Tejashwi Yadav, speaking to reporters on Tuesday after meeting with Congress leadership in Delhi, said the opposition alliance was united and ready to lead Bihar forward. He announced a follow-up meeting with alliance partners scheduled for April 17 in Patna.
Slamming the NDA’s two-decade rule in the state, Tejashwi said Bihar continues to be plagued by poverty, low per capita income, poor farmer earnings, and high migration. Addressing the issue of the opposition’s Chief Ministerial candidate, he said it would be decided unanimously, while asserting, “Nitish Ji has already been hijacked. NDA will not form the government this time.”
Nishant Kumar later doubled down on the JD(U)’s confidence in the upcoming elections, saying, “I appeal to Bihar’s people to give JD(U) an even bigger majority than in 2010. Nitish Kumar will definitely remain the CM.”
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary echoed this sentiment, dismissing any threat from the opposition alliance. “Even if the entire UPA and the INDI alliance contest together, Nitish Kumar will remain Bihar’s Chief Minister,” he said.
Bihar is heading for a crucial assembly election later this year, with the NDA—led by Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP—set to face off against the opposition Mahagathbandhan, which includes the Congress, RJD, and Left parties.