While addressing an election rally in Bihar on Thursday, 5 November, Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar said that the ongoing state Assembly polls would be his last election.
At a rally in Bihar’s Purnia, while Kumar asked the crowd to vote for JD(U), he said, “This is the last day of the election, day after are the polls. This is my last election. Ant bhala to sab bhala (All’s well that ends well).”
Opposition parties reacted to his comment and said that ‘he must retire’. At the same time, sources close to the chief minister told NDTV that Kumar only meant that "this was the last election meeting of these polls."
However, in the same story, JDU leader Ashok Chaudhary said, "It is wrong to link his statement to the third phase of polls. He could have said this in the earlier rounds also. But Nitish Kumar is a serious sort of person and has a political standing. When he says something, he says it with full seriousness and thought," said Janata Dal-United leader Ashok Chowdhary.
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan clarified saying: “Nitishji has said that this is his last election. He is, and will stay in politics.”
‘Nitish Ji Has Conceded Defeat’: Opposition Reacts
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said Kumar’s comments meant that he had conceded defeat.
“Thankfully, Nitishji has conceded defeat before third phase of Bihar polls. Nitishji and Modiji have caused more harm to Bihar than anyone else in past. Nitish babu should retire, he can share his good experiences with Mahagathbandhan's CM candidate,” Surjewala said.
Leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Tejashwi Yadav, said Kumar had understood ground realities.
He said, “We have been saying this for long, that Nitish Kumar has worn out and he is not able to manage Bihar. Now, on the last day of election campaign, he has announced that he is taking retirement from politics, maybe he has understood the ground realities.”
While Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan said, “If a leader runs away from the battlefield what will his people do? If he thinks that with this he will be able to escape a corruption investigation, then I won't let it happen. If he's found guilty, he will have to go to jail.”
Kumar, on Tuesday, was left red-faced when a few people threw onions at the stage during his rally in Madhubani’s Harlakhi. The incident happened when the JD(U) chief was speaking on the employment issue while addressing the election rally.
The first phase of the Assembly elections in Bihar was held on 28 October, the second on 3 November, and the third and the last phase will be held on 7 November. The counting of votes will take place on 10 November.
(With inputs from ANI)
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