Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar slammed the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday, describing his previous alliances with the party as “mistakes.” Speaking in Muzaffarpur during his state-wide Pragati Yatra, Kumar accused the RJD, led by his political rival Lalu Prasad, of failing to deliver while in power.
Talking to reporters in the north Bihar district of Muzaffarpur, as part of a state-wide Pragati Yatra, Kumar said, “Those who were in power before us… did they do anything? People used to fear stepping out of their homes after sunset. I had by mistake aligned with them a couple of times.”
“What was the condition of women back then? Today you can see these self-help groups, which we gave the name ‘Jivika’. The Centre replicated our model and called it ‘Ajivika’. Did you see such confident rural women earlier?” asked the longest-serving CM of the state, PTI reported.
Kumar avoided direct comments on Prasad’s recent statement about keeping “doors open” for a potential alliance. The remark had been dismissed by Tejashwi Yadav, Prasad’s son and political heir, but found support from the Congress, an RJD ally.
Also Read:Made mistake of joining RJD twice, will now stick to NDA: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar
The CM’s remarks follow Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ambiguous stance on projecting Kumar as the BJP-led NDA’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. While state BJP leaders have endorsed Kumar as the alliance’s face, the party’s dependence on allies like the JD(U) and TDP at the Centre remains a crucial factor.
Development projects worth rs 451 crore launched
During his visit, Kumar inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 76 development projects in Muzaffarpur, collectively worth rs 451.40 crore. At a review meeting held at the district collectorate, District Magistrate Subrata Sen presented updates on key initiatives, including:
- Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme
- Chief Minister Nishchay Self Help Allowance Scheme
- Tap Water to Every House initiative
- Chief Minister Rural Solar Street Light Scheme
- Agricultural electricity connections and irrigation projects
Kumar urged officials to promptly address concerns raised by elected representatives at the meeting.
Key announcements
Kumar announced the construction of a ring road in eastern Muzaffarpur to reduce traffic congestion. Additional infrastructure projects include:
- A Road Over Bridge at Ramdayalu crossing
- A four-lane road from Bankarpur (Saran) to Dumariya Ghat (Gopalganj)
- Beautification initiatives for Muzaffarpur city
Additionally, an auditorium under construction in Daudpur Kothi will be named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as per the CM’s announcement.