Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister of Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad said on Sunday, after the grand alliance trounced the BJP in the Assembly elections.
Addressing the media at the RJD headquarters in Patna, Mr. Prasad also said that his party and the JD-U will build a campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi nationwide.
Hailing Mr. Kumar’s leadership, Mr. Prasad said: “I congratulate Nitish Kumar. Nitish Kumar will run the government.”
He said Bihar will develop in a major way under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
“The people of Bihar have wiped out the BJP, chased out the BJP,” Mr. Prasad thundered, adding that the BJP combine’s defeat would have a major impact on national politics.
He said he would also go to Varanasi to see if Mr. Modi had fulfilled his election promises in his Lok Sabha constituency.
Bihar outcome significant nationally: Nitish
The BJP combine’s defeat in Bihar is significant nationally, Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said.
“From the national perspective, the result is significant,” Mr. Kumar said in his first comments after his Grand Alliance triumphed in the battle for the 243-seat Bihar assembly.
He said this was the only reason why the Bihar polls, although a state election, evoked so much interest across the country.
“It is now clear that people want a strong and united opposition (in the country),” said the JD(U) leader who is poised to take oath for a third straight time as the chief minister of Bihar.
“There will be a national impact (of the Bihar verdict),” he said. “In the national context, Bihar understands its responsibility.”
At the same, the chief minister said he and his allies will respect the opposition in Bihar — a reference to the vanquished BJP and its allies.
“We have no malice in our hearts. We will never make fun of the vanquished... We will work without any ill-will towards those who opposed us in the election. We have no hatred.
“Whatever may have happened during the election, now that the Grand Alliance has won, we hope to get the support of the central government.”
He said the BJP’s attempts to divide the society in a bid to polarize the voters had been foiled by Bihar’s electorate.
“The people have given a decisive mandate.”
Mr. Kumar described the sweeping win of the Grand Alliance, which also includes the RJD and the Congress, as “a victory for Bihar’s self respect”.
“We have got the support of all sections of the society... Women, youths, minorities, Dalits, Mahadalits, backward castes, extremely backward castes, adivasis, upper castes.”
He pointed that in the face of an aggressive campaign by the BJP, his JD(U), the RJD and the Congress worked in a united fashion. This unity, he said, would be maintained.
“This is a very big victory. We accept it with humility.”
