Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while campaigning for the upcoming by-elections, highlighted his government’s efforts in improving the state’s law and order situation and promoting development for all communities. He contrasted this with the previous RJD government, which he claimed fostered fear and division. Kumar emphasized his commitment to working with the NDA for the betterment of Bihar.
ANIBihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday that during the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) government, no one could leave their homes after the evening but he and his government worked for everyone including Hindus, Muslims, upper caste, Dalits.
“We did a lot of work for the Muslim community also,” he said, while canvassing for the upcoming Tarari byelection scheduled for November 13.
Addressing a public gathering at Arrah, CM Nitish said, “We worked for Hindus, Muslims, upper caste, backward, extremely backward, Dalits and Mahadalits… We did a lot of work for the Muslim community also. Madrasas were given governmental recognition and the teachers were given salaries equal to government school teachers. They (Opposition) kept taking votes and never did anything.”
The Bihar CM also asserted that he would work together with the NDA.
“I had been a minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. Some mistakes happened here and there but now we will work together. We used to see that no work was getting done. During their (RJD) government, no one could leave their homes after the evening out of fear… There were clashes because of them. They only wanted Muslim votes… But the Hindu-Muslim clashes were more… Are there any clashes after we came to power?” CM Nitish Kumar said.
The by-elections for four assembly constituencies in Bihar, namely Belaganj, Imamganj, Tarari, and Ramgarh are scheduled to be held on November 13. The results are to be announced on November 23.
Earlier, RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav expressed confidence in winning the by-polls in Bihar.
“We will win the by-polls and the 2025 Bihar assembly elections as well. The government of the poor will be formed… Hate needs to be defeated,” Tejashwi told reporters.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has postponed the by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab from November 13 to November 20.
The decision comes after requests from national and state parties, including INC, BJP, BSP, and RLD, to avoid low voter turnout. Major political parties had requested the EC to shift the dates in these states due to various festivities.
