Patna (Bihar) [India], June 26 : Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that he is no longer effective in his role.
In an interview with ANI, Kishor said that even top officials like police officers, doctors, teachers, and bankers are not listening to Kumar. His criticism comes ahead of the Bihar elections, expected to be held in October or November this year.
Kishor challenged Bihar's Finance Minister to explain the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio and confirm if Rs 2 lakh crore is being transferred from the state every year. If the minister can do so, Kishor will stop his campaign. Kishor believes the minister lacks basic knowledge of the state's banking data.
Prashant Kishor said, "Ask the Finance Minister of Bihar to explain what the CD ratio is or to confirm that Rs 2 lakh crore is being transferred every year. If he can do that, I will stop our work. But he doesn't know. At the national level, if you ask Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, she can tell you that the CD ratio is 74 and that banks are under stress."
Kishor alleged that the state government has failed to create a supportive environment for banks to give loans, resulting in a low Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio.
"In Bihar, there is a committee that is supposed to keep the state's CD ratio close to the national average. Even Nitish Kumar attends those meetings, but all he says is that bankers are not giving loans and asks them to do better. The truth is, no one is listening to Nitish Kumar anymore, not the police officers, not the CEOs, not doctors, teachers, or even bankers," Kishor said.
Kishor has repeatedly questioned Nitish Kumar's leadership abilities, calling him "physically tired and mentally retired". He said that Kumar's government is being run by retired bureaucrats and that the CM is in their grip.
Citing his recent meeting with senior Bank officials in Saran, he said Bihar is a big market for deposits, but lacks the basic conditions needed for credit growth.
"Banks will give loans only when the right environment is created for them, and the government works with them. Bankers have told me that for the first time, someone is speaking up for them. I was in Saran last night and met the RM and DM of Canara Bank. I asked them how big Bihar is as a market for their bank. They said it's a very big market, but mainly for deposits, not loans. They told me that if people like me come forward, they would like to give loans, but right now, the conditions to do so simply don't exist," he added.
Bihar elections are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date.