“Circumstances forced me to tie up with RJD,” says Nitish Kumar

Muzaffarpur, Bihar: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday criticized his longtime rival Lalu Prasad for neglecting women during his tenure and for installing wife Rabri Devi as chief minister after stepping down amid the fodder scam.

Speaking at his first election rally in Minapur constituency of Muzaffarpur, Kumar said past alliances with the RJD left him disillusioned. “Because of circumstances, I had to tie up with those people, but I quickly realized they were good for nothing. Now I am back with NDA for good,” he said.

Kumar highlighted his government’s focus on women’s empowerment. He cited the formation of self-help groups across the state and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, under which Rs 10,000 has been transferred into the accounts of over one crore women. “Did the previous government do anything for women? They could not have cared less. Only when stepping down became unavoidable did they install the wife,” he said, without naming Lalu Prasad directly.

Lalu Prasad served as Bihar CM from 1990 to 1997. His wife, Rabri Devi, then a homemaker with no political experience, became CM in a controversial move that drew widespread criticism. Kumar recalled his earlier alliances with the RJD, first in 2015 and again in 2022. Both partnerships lasted less than two years.

He noted that Prasad’s son, Tejashwi Yadav, served as deputy CM on both occasions. Tejashwi now leads the opposition and stands as the NDA’s main challenger in the upcoming elections.

Transitioning to his own achievements, Kumar praised his government’s work in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. He also lauded the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for its cooperation.

Kumar emphasized that Bihar suffered from poor law and order before he assumed office. “An atmosphere of terror prevailed. Criminals enjoyed patronage. Disputes between communities ran high,” he said. “Now, it is for all to see how much things have changed. Even Hindu-Muslim disputes have declined because we addressed key needs like fencing of religious places of both faiths.”

He underlined the state’s development progress while contrasting it with past mismanagement. “We built roads, upgraded schools, improved healthcare, and empowered women,” Kumar said.

The CM sought to assure voters that the NDA remained the stable choice. He said short-lived alliances with the RJD taught him lessons about political reliability and governance. “We learned from experience. We know who delivers and who doesn’t,” he added.

Kumar’s rally reflected a strategy to highlight his administrative record, criticize rivals, and reinforce NDA loyalty. Analysts said his focus on women, law and order, and development aims to consolidate rural support.

With the elections approaching, Kumar’s remarks signal a determined effort to position the NDA as the only credible option. He framed the campaign as a choice between development and past misrule.

He concluded by urging voters to judge performance over promises. “Look at the facts, not slogans,” Kumar said. “Bihar has changed. And we will keep it moving forward.”