January 5, 2025: Nitish Kumar’s recent statements reflect a combination of political positioning and a strong defense of his government’s achievements, especially in areas like women’s empowerment and Bihar’s overall development. By highlighting the success of initiatives like the Jeevika Didi scheme, which focuses on empowering rural women through self-help groups, Nitish is reinforcing his government’s commitment to social welfare and gender equality. His remark about women being “happy” and receiving help when needed paints a positive picture of his administration’s impact on grassroots development.
However, the most significant part of his statement is the veiled critique of the opposition. Nitish’s comment about having “mistakenly gone with them (the opposition)” and now returning to his “old friends” is a sharp dig at his past alliance with the BJP, which he has since abandoned. It underscores his disillusionment with the opposition while reaffirming his alignment with the RJD-led Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan). His rhetorical question about whether the opposition “did any work for women” is designed to position his government as the true champion of social justice and women’s empowerment in the state.
Additionally, Nitish’s comment about Bihar’s transformation since 2005—when his party first came to power—is an attempt to highlight the long-term positive changes his government has implemented. By contrasting the pre-2005 scenario, where Bihar was allegedly plagued by violence, poor infrastructure, and social unrest, with the development initiatives of his tenure, he aims to showcase his administration as the savior that turned the state’s fortunes around. Nitish’s claim that “no area of Bihar is untouched by development” is designed to emphasize the broad reach of his government’s work, touching sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and road construction.
His reference to road travel being reduced from six to five hours for residents traveling from distant parts of Bihar to Patna is a small but telling example of how his government has worked to improve connectivity and infrastructure in the state. It reflects his emphasis on tangible, incremental improvements that directly impact people’s daily lives.
The underlying theme in Nitish Kumar’s statements is a defense of his record of governance and development, paired with a subtle political jab at the opposition. It also reflects the ongoing political churn in Bihar, where alliances are fluid, and leaders like Nitish Kumar continue to navigate shifting political waters to maintain their relevance and power. Through these remarks, Nitish is reminding the people of Bihar of his government’s role in transforming the state, while also highlighting the perceived shortcomings of those who criticize or oppose his leadership.