Page 34 - Nitish Kumar

His political career began just 20 yrs ago: Bihar CM's fresh salvo at Shah

Firing a fresh salvo at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday asserted that he attached no importance to barbs hurled by those whose political career began just 20 years ago. Kumar made the remark in response to queries from journalists about Shah's statement in Sitab Diyara, the ancestral village of Jayaprakash Narayan, that "disciples" of the socialist leader are now sitting in the "lap of Congress" for the sake of power. "The one whose name you people are taking, did he have any first-hand knowledge of what JP stood for? We had earned our spurs in the JP movement (of 1974). I do not want to attach any importance to those whose political career began just 20 years ago," said the JD(U) leader who had dumped the BJP two months ago. "But, yes, they have got a shot at power right now. And the media highlights them a lot. All English newspapers in Delhi have prominently carried his diatribe about me. But I could not care less," said Kumar, the ..

Bihar CM after changing sides 5 times: Amit Shah takes a jibe at Nitish

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a stinging attack on former BJP ally Nitish Kumar, referring to frequent change of coalition partners by the Bihar chief minister who has, nonetheless, held on to power. Shah was addressing a function on the occasion of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan's 120th birth anniversary, organised at this village in Saran district where the socialist leader was born. One who has changed sides as many as five times is the chief minister was the remark of Shah, who made many indirect references to the JD(U) leader and the latter's alliance with arch-rival Lalu Prasad's RJD, without mentioning either by name. Shah made the remark in an apparent reference to the chequered political journey of Kumar, who broke away with the Janata Dal to form Samata Party and tied up for a brief period with CPI(ML), before beginning a long partnership with the BJP which ended in 2013. He returned to the NDA in 2017 only to exit five years later. In his speech that .

CM Nitish Kumar loses temper after complaint over Bihar's health system

Miffed with the working style of doctors, an angry Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday scolded the Chief Secretary and directed him to rectify things immediately

'Nitish should resign, has grown indifferent towards EBCs who support PM'

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has grown indifferent towards Extremely Backward Classes who are, by and large, supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leader and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi alleged. At a press conference here, Modi demanded the resignation of his ex-boss whom he squarely blamed for the adverse judgement of Patna High Court that declared as illegal quotas for OBCs and EBCs in urban local body polls, which has caused the election process to hang in balance. The state's Advocate General Lalit Kishor had through communications dated February 4 and March 12 advised the state government to set up a Commission to fulfil the Supreme Court's triple test criteria for such quotas. On March 22 and May 11, the State Election Commission also sought instructions from the government on the matter, claimed Modi. The triple test required the state government to set up a dedicated commission to gather data on the backwardness of OBCs in every local body, to ..

'Shameful': Prasad on Nitish's disapproval of CBI chargesheet against Lalu

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at Nitish Kumar on Sunday for defending his new ally, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, and his family members after the CBI filed a chargesheet against them, saying it is "shameful" and "unfortunate" how the Bihar chief minister has turned a blind eye to the issue of corruption. Addressing a press conference here, the former Union minister said Kumar is "compromising the core of his life's savings" by defending Lalu Prasad and his family members in the corruption case. The Bihar chief minister on Saturday voiced his disapproval of the CBI chargesheet against Lalu Prasad in a case pertaining to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief's tenure as the railway minister. "Nothing came of that case. Now that I am back in the alliance, a new thing has started. Is this the way? It seems they are acting upon whims and fancies," Kumar, who is now in the "Mahagathbandhan" comprising his JD(U), the RJD and the Congress, had said, indirectly referring to the allegation

Age affecting Nitish Kumar, he has become 'delusional': Prashant Kishor

Hitting back at Nitish Kumar, Kishor said that the Bihar chief minister has become "delusional" and "politically isolated" and thus speaks things other than what he actually means

Age affecting Nitish Kumar, he has become 'delusional': Prashant Kishor

Hitting back at Nitish Kumar, political strategist Prashant Kishor said that the Bihar CM has become "delusional" and "politically isolated" and thus speaks things other than what he actually means

Nitish says Prashant Kishor had asked him to merge JD(U) with Congress

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday claimed that poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor had asked him to merge his JD(U) with the Congress. Speaking to reporters in Sitab Diara, the birthplace of socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan, Kumar claimed that Kishor was working for the BJP. "He came to meet me recently of his own accord. I did not invite him. He speaks so much but hides the fact that once he had asked me to merge my party with the Congress," said Kumar. The chief minister was responding to Kishor's claim that he spurned a recent request by by Kumar to lead the JD(U). "Let him speak whatever he wants. Whatever he says, does not make any sense. Four-five years ago, he had told me to merge with the Congress. Now, he is working for the BJP," said Kumar. Kishor had on Tuesday claimed that Kumar had called him to his residence about 10-15 days back and asked him to lead JD(U). "I said it is not possible. I cannot go back on the commitment I have made in ret

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar frowns upon CBI charge sheet against Lalu Yadav

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday voiced his disapproval of the CBI charge sheet against RJD president Lalu Prasad, his new ally, in a case pertaining to the latter's tenure as Railway Minister. Talking to reporters here before leaving for Sitab Diyara, birthplace of Jayaprakash Narayan on the occasion of the socialist leader's death anniversary, Kumar also lambasted the BJP for trying to put him in the dock over the Patna High Court order quashing quotas for OBCs and EBCs in urban local body polls. "You all may recall what happened about five years ago which caused me to walk out of the alliance", said Kumar, with his deputy and Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav by his side, whose name had cropped up in another case which had led the JD(U) leader to snap ties with the RJD. "Nothing came of that case. Now that I am back in the alliance a new thing has started. Is this the way? (yeh koi tarika hai). It seems they are acting upon whims and fancies ", said the CM, now in the ...

Bihar govt nefarious coalition of casteist, undesirable elements: UP BJP

Uttar Pradesh BJP president Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh Friday described the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government as a "nefarious coalition of casteist and undesirable elements", and said its decline will begin with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in the state. Shah will be visiting a Bihar village adjacent to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan's ancestral village Sitab Diara, which falls in Uttar Pradesh, on October 11 on the socialist leader's birth anniversary. The beginning of the end of the Nitish Kumar-led government will start from the soil of Bihar on the birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, Singh said. BJP Ballia MP and president of JP Trust Virendra Singh Mast claimed that after Shah's programme, a new political environment would be created in the country, especially in Bihar.

Have asked Yogi to develop part of JP's village falling in UP: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday disclosed that he has written to Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath for speedy completion of long pending development work in the ancestral village of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan. During the launch here, through video conference, of a number of projects at Sitab Diyara, the legendary socialist leader's village, Kumar rued the tardy pace of work in the adjoining state. "The village of JP is a place people want to see. We have done our best, built a ring dam at a cost of Rs 65 crore and spent another Rs 35 crore for work aimed at preventing erosion of the flood prone area," Kumar said. "We have also built roads, one of which is being dedicated to the people today besides a library cum memorial containing 500 original photographs of JP, 800 books and many CDs," the CM said. "But parts of Sitab Diyara fall in UP and the government there had agreed, in principle, to do its bit way back in 2017-18," said Kumar, who dumped the BJP about

Will not work for Nitish even if he vacates CM's chair for me: Kishor

Continuing his tirade against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Wednesday said that he would not work for the JD(U) supremo even if the latter "vacates the CM's chair" for him. Kishor had on Tuesday claimed that he spurned a recent request by Kumar to "lead" the Janata Dal (United). Addressing a gathering at Jamunia village in West Champaran district during the day, as part on his ongoing 3,500-km-long 'Jan Suraaj' padyatra, Kishor said, "When I met Nitish Kumar a few days ago, he asked me to re-join JD(U) and work with him. 'You are my political heir', the CM told me asking to withdraw my campaign." "I categorically told the CM that I will not work with him even if he (Nitish Kumar) makes me his political heir or.vacates the chair of CM for me. I said no....I have made a promise to the peopleit can't be changed," the 45-year-old former national vice-president of JD(U) added. Kishor was inducted into the JD(U) in 2018 by Kumar.

Nitish asked me to lead his party, I refused, says Prashant Kishor

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and claimed that he spurned a recent request by the latter to "lead" the Janata Dal (United). Kishor, who is on a 3,500-km-long pada-yatra' that would cover every nook and corner of the state, made the claim in a remote part of West Champaran district, about 275 km from Patna. "Nitish Kumar has been able to hold on to his chair and thinks he is very smart (mukhyamanti banke bahut hoshiyar ban rahe hain'), said Kishor with uncharacteristic acerbity for a leader whom he has often called a father figure. "After losing the 2014 (Lok Sabha) polls, he met me in Delhi, begging for help. I assisted him in winning the 2015 assembly polls as the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan'. Today, he has the temerity to offer gyan' (wisdom) to me, added Kishor. The 45-year-old former national vice-president of JD(U) seems to have taken to heart Kumar's rece

RJD Bihar chief says he never gave timeline of Nitish Kumar leaving CM post

A day after RJD Bihar chief Jagadanand Singh said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will give the responsibility of the state to Tejashwi Yadav in 2023

Nitish upset over row triggered by woman IAS officer; hints at action

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday hinted that action may be taken against senior woman IAS officer Harjot Kaur Bumrah whose indiscretion during a recent interaction with school girls has caused a major embarrassment for his government. The officer has, meanwhile, issued a signed statement expressing regret over the controversy that arose after a purported video footage of the September 27 function went viral on social media. Kumar, who was approached by journalists with queries about the National Commission for Women (NCW) slapping a notice on Bumrah, said, "Orders are in place to inquire into the issue which I learnt about through newspapers. We are committed to providing all assistance to the state's women. If the IAS officer's behaviour is found to be against that spirit, action will be taken." Bumrah is an Additional Chief Secretary rank officer who also heads the state's women's and child development commission. At a state-level workshop organised in collaboration

All opposition leaders will sit together in Delhi soon, says Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that the leaders of opposition parties will soon sit together in Delhi to make a strategy against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections

LIVE: Ghulam Nabi announces new party, names it 'Democratic Azad Party'

MLAs loyal to the Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, who is set to contest for the post of Congress president, reached the assembly speaker's residence to submit their resignation on Sunday

Nitish Kumar calls for Congress-comprised 'main front' to oust BJP

At the rally, Nitish Kumar even called for the inclusion of the Congress as the main Opposition party. However, the rally organiser INLD and its ally SAD do not share cordial relations with Congress

Opposition unity 'core' for 2024 LS polls as Nitish and Lalu meet Sonia

The meeting came soon after several opposition leaders had come together to pay tribute to former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal in Haryana.

JD(U) UP unit hopes Nitish Kumar will reconsider to contest LS polls

Days after JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar denied the possibility of contesting the 2024 general elections from Phulpur, the party's Uttar Pradesh unit remains hopeful that he will reconsider the decision to send a larger message of Opposition unity against the BJP. Some Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders also welcomed the idea. Dismissing speculation over his candidature in the Lok Sabha elections from the Phulpur constituency of Uttar Pradesh, Kumar said on September 20 that he is only interested in uniting opposition parties ahead of the parliamentary polls. The Bihar chief minister also asserted that his efforts should reap benefits for the younger generation, "for people like (his deputy) Tejashwi Yadav". Uttar Pradesh JD(U) president Anoop Singh Patel said the party state unit hopes that Kumar will reconsider his decision. "We had given a proposal to him (Nitish Kumar) at the party's recent national convention in Patna to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Phulpur, Mirzapur or ..