Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, November 12
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday evening claimed he had no desire (Chahat) to be the Chief Minister but would oblige the NDA by accepting the chair.
He is expected to take oath for another 7th term next week. Date of swearing in ceremony is still undecided.
Talking to media persons two days after the results were declared, Nitish said he had no personal choice, but would abide by the decision of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to make him (Nitish) CM again.
He said a meeting of the leaders of the four alliance partners would be held tomorrow and after Deepavali, was expected to take oath as the chief minister. Nitish was first sworn in as CM on March 3, 2000.
The Chief Minister reacted to the comments of the media persons that there was an impression among JDU leaders too that he was “arrogant”, Nitish appealed with folded hands, “please do not call me arrogant”.
He claimed on November 5 he had said at Dhamdaha that he was addressing his last election meeting and not announced the end of his political career.
Nitish repeatedly said he has no lust for power, but would decide the cabinet formation with other NDA leaders. It would be in two phases, one might be before the Chhath festival, he clarified. According to the CM, the term of the existing House would expire on November 29, and only after the House was dissolved, a new assembly would be constituted. There is no hurry.
Though he claimed he was not power hungry, still he said he would work sincerely to work for the development of the state and the welfare of the people. “There is no doubt who would be the chief minister since the Prime Minister himself had announced the name”, he said.
Meanwhile Chief election officer of Bihar H R Sriniwas today submitted the names of the newly elected MLAs to the Governor, Fagu Chauhan to facilitate constitution of the new House.
The Chief Minister said because of the presence of candidates of one particular party (LJP), JDU was rejected in most of the constituencies and could succeed on 43 seats only against 71 in the existing House. “Vote kata Gaya”, he alleged and claimed the LJP effect was felt in many areas.
It is for the BJP to keep LJP as its alliance partner at the Centre, Nitish said.
When the Chief Minister alleged media was spreading false information about the performance of his government, media persons challenged him and said during the elections, they had visited many villages and found serious complaints of corruption, mismanagement and failure of prohibition.
They also told CM he had hidden himself from the media during the Lockdown period too.”You are blaming the media, but you are to be blamed as you were kept in the dark by your officers and because of your arrogant behaviour your leaders were also not able to communicate with you to tell the truth,” media persons told Nitish who again requested not to call him arrogant again.
Nitish got the letters of support from the leaders of HAM and VIP having 8 MLAs today. He enjoyed support of BJP MLAs too with NDA having 125 MLAs in 243 members House.
Nitish Kumar came out of the CM bungalow at 1, Anney Marg for the first time since the campaign had stopped on November 7 and visited the JDU headquarters at Beerchand Patel Road. With folded hands, he thanked the party office-bearers.
Later, he met the successful and failed JDU candidates in the assembly elections individually.
