Patna (Bihar) [India], November 10 : Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday described Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a "necessity" for the state, calling him a case study in political longevity despite challenges.
Speaking to ANI in an interview, Paswan said, "As a Political Science student, I would say that Nitish ji is a necessity, and I am saying this in a positive way. When I say that I am a student of politics, this is another case study. It would be very useful for my future if I could understand how you have remained in power for two decades despite all the highs and lows. You know, anti-incumbency is not seen against him today."
The Union Minister asserted that there is no anti-incumbency wave against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, attributing it to welfare schemes and public empathy towards the veteran leader's health.
"There is no anti-incumbency. I am saying this very honestly. I am saying this because, in 2020, I experienced that there were still complaints--this didn't happen, that didn't happen. But either because of welfare schemes or because of targeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ji personally... even the memes that were made. I mean, as far as his health is concerned, if you talk about the health of an elderly person, then we connect emotionally with them, just like when there is an elderly person in our family. In this way, the more people target him by saying he is in a state of unconsciousness, the more I see people connect with him. People say, look, he is fighting even then--and which is true also," he added.
Paswan further contrasted CM Nitish Kumar's campaign energy with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, questioning the latter's fitness and alertness.
"When Tejashwi did not even leave the house and completed the negotiations, I saw that Chief Minister Nitish was busy campaigning. So now you tell me who is more fit and more alert health-wise," he said.
Chirag Paswan expressed that his relations with Nitish Kumar are excellent, highlighting that Kumar visited his home on Chhath to partake in Kharna Prasad. Paswan emphasised that such a gesture signifies positive ties, stating that if the relationship were not good, Kumar wouldn't have joined him for the occasion.
"Our relations are very good. He came to my house on the day of Chhath to eat Kharna Prasad. If the relations were not good, then why would he come to eat Kharna Prasad? And if he comes, if he wants to give the message, then it means that the relations are good," he said.
Chirag said he and the Bihar CM made sincere efforts to act as a unifying force and held prolonged closed-door discussions. He described the CM as calm, composed, a man of few words but strong in expression, and one who clearly conveyed his points.
"So I and the Chief Minister made an honest effort to become a cementing force. We gave each other some time. We had long discussions in a closed room. He is calm and composed. He is a man of few words, yet his words are very strong. He communicated his message very clearly. He is much older than me in age. And my values don't say that I should give an answer or argue with them," he said.
In the second phase of the 2025 assembly polls, the NDA will face a major challenge in maintaining its dominance, particularly in its northern Bihar strongholds, including East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, and Sitamarhi districts, where the ruling alliance currently holds sway over 30 assembly seats.
The phase will also decide the fate of 12 ministers from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet. Among them are JD(U) leaders Vijendra Yadav (contesting from Supaul assembly constituency), Lesi Singh (Dhamdaha), Jayant Kushwaha (Amarpur), Sumit Singh (Chakai), Mohammad Jama Khan (Chainpur), and Sheela Mandal (Phoolparas).
Key ministers from the BJP in the fray include Prem Kumar (Gaya Town), Renu Devi (Bettiah), Vijay Kumar Mandal (Sikati), Nitish Mishra (Jhanjharpur), Neeraj Bablu (Chhatapur), and Krishnanandan Paswan (Harsiddhi).