Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar claimed to be campaigning for his last election, triggering a variety of reactions across political quarters in the state.
The CM had said at a rally, “All’s well that ends well. The day after, there is voting. This is my last election. Will you vote for the JD-U candidate or not?” chief minister Nitish Kumar asked the people at Dhamdaha in Purnia during the last leg of his campaigning on Thursday. The third round of voting in Bihar polls will take place on November 7. “The people of Bihar relied on me and my work for 15 years and I appeal to you to give your vote for the last time for the development of Bihar. He was campaigning for JDU candidate Lesi Singh.
It was seen as his retirement announcement by the opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition’s chief ministerial candidate, tweeted, “Nitish-ji refused to acknowledge the aspirations and expectations of the people of Bihar or even the ground reality. I have been saying since the beginning of this campaign that he is tired. Today, before the last phase of voting, he has accepted defeat and has confirmed what I had been saying by announcing his retirement from politics.”
He also told reporters in Patna, “We have been saying this for long that Nitish Kumar ji has worn out and he is not able to manage Bihar. Now on the last day of the election campaign, he has announced that he is taking retirement from politics, maybe he has understood the ground realities.”
“Thankfully, Nitish ji has conceded defeat before the third phase of Bihar polls. Nitish ji and Modi ji have caused more harm to Bihar than anyone else in the past. Nitish babu should retire, he can share his good experiences with mahagathbandhan’s CM candidate,” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said in a statement.
LJP leader Chirag Paswan also wrote on Twitter, “Sahab says this is his last election. He refused to give an account for his last five years and has already declared that he has no intention of doing so next time. Don’t elect a person who will not come to you for blessings tomorrow. There will be no sahab or JDU in the next election. Who will you then question.”
Meanwhile, JDU spokesman Neeraj Kumar said, “He has often said that nobody is permanent. He has always walked the talk and Nitish Kumar is known for politics with a difference. He earlier left the chair of railway minister and chief minister. He lives for the people and that is what he has always done.”
Calling it the CM’s personal decision, BJP leader and MLC Sanjay Mayukh said, “But with people’s blessings, which has always been with him, he will again hold the chair for five years and after that he may decide.”