Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, November 5
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in a stunning announcement while wrapping up his Bihar campaign, announced at a rally today that this was his last election.
In a last desperate attempt to influence the voters in the assembly elections, the 69-year-old engineer-turned politician and JDU national president, Nitish Kumar on Thursday evening announced his retirement from politics. His rival in Bihar politics, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav welcomed the announcement and said “Nitish Kumar is worn out.”
Nitish Kumar who is chief minister of Bihar since February 2005 made the emotional appeal to the voters to elect JDU candidates with Teer (arrows) symbol victorious. He said, “This is the last day of the election campaign, this is the last meeting. This is my last election. Everything is well, if it ends well.”
Chief Minister’s office in a release said, “Chief Minister announced that Bihar assembly elections 2020 are going to be the last election of his political career.”
Nitish’s last election meeting of the current assembly election campaign was at Dhamdaha in Purnia district bordering BanglaDesh. He sought votes for his cabinet colleague Ms Lacy Singh. He addressed five meetings, all in the Seemanchal region of the state.
Showing his attachment to the Seemanchal region having majority Muslim population, Nitish Kumar said during last 15 years he got the region developed and promoted educational facilities in the areas having sizable Muslim population,
He thanked the people of Bihar for giving him opportunities to work so far and hoped everyone will remain united.
Nitish Kumar did his B Engineering from Patna Engineering College.he had unsuccessfully contested assembly elections in 1977 and 1980.He was elected first in 1985 to Bihar assembly and in 1989 to Lok Sabha to become union minister for agriculture. He was Railways minister too.
His announcement was greeted with mixed reactions. Prem Ranjan Patel, BJP spokesman said, “Nitish Kumar was feeling disturbed over protests in his election meetings. He is sensitive. People of Bihar will not allow Nitish Kumar to leave the state leadership. He is the Vikash Purush and his presence is essential for growth of the state. There is no alternative to Nitish Kumar.”
However, his party leader and union minister Giriraj Singh welcomed the decision of Nitish Kumar and praised his leadership qualities. He created records in all fields, either as CM or union minister. Making the announcement of retirement during the elections is a great sacrifice.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, “Nitish Kumar has realised JDU-BJP alliance is losing the elections. He conceded defeat. He should apologise to the people of Bihar and go on graceful retirement.”
Grand Alliance chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Prasad Yadav commented, “I proved right. He was not able to handle Bihar. He was tired and took retirement. We have been saying this for long that Nitish Kumar ji has worn out and he is not able to manage Bihar. Now, on the last day of campaign, he has announced his retirement from politics. He understood the ground realities.”
Shivananad Tiwari, RJD vice-president said Nitish Kumar would not be firm on his announcement. He used this last emotional weapon before the electorate who had turned hostile to him. It is his stunt, he added.
LJP president Chirag Paswan said Nitish Kumar announced his retirement without submitting the report card of the last five years. “Saheb, ab hum kisse Hisab Mangenge,” he added. Chirag said, “The JDU leaders would now become unemployed as Nitish Kumar left them in the lurch. JDU will be finished. Surprised he announced his retirement on the last meeting of the last day of campaign”. He had called Nitish as the most corrupt chief minister.
There is no word from the JDU leaders to persuade him to withdraw his retirement .BJP leaders, however, said Nitish Kumar was indispensable for the BJP. They said the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his election meetings had described Nitish Kumar as indispensable and called him his best friend.Without him,development cannot take place ,PM had also said.
According to the JDU leaders close to the chief minister, Nitish Kumar was quite upset over a series of attacks and abuses on him in the election meetings. He had told his trusted colleagues “People are throwing onions and potatoes, calling me Thief.”
This hurt him and his decision to announce retirement was taken after, lot of deliberations as he did not want to disturb the campaign and demoralise candidates mid-way through the campaign.
Immediately after his return from campaign, Nitish Kumar offered prayers at a mosque opposite Patna High Court on the annual Urs.
Nitish has not contested elections since he became CM in 2005. He is MLC.
