Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has reaffirmed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) unwavering support for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, dispelling speculation about a leadership change in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Speaking to PTI, Choudhary stated, “Nitish Kumar was the leader yesterday, he is the leader today, and he will remain the leader tomorrow.” He emphasized that the BJP stands firmly behind Kumar, who has led the NDA in Bihar since 1996, and that the alliance remains united.
Addressing reports about Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant, entering politics, Choudhary called it a "personal matter" for the JD(U) and assured BJP’s support for any decision taken by its ally. On the opposition, Choudhary dismissed RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, labeling him "a mere appointee of his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav." He went further, stating, “The day Lalu ji decides to appoint someone else, nobody will care about Tejashwi.”
Choudhary also highlighted the BJP’s commitment to the coalition, recalling that the party had only opposed Nitish Kumar when JD(U) was in the opposition. “Once in a coalition, the BJP stands 100 percent with its alliance partners,” he said.
Discussing the upcoming elections, Choudhary exuded confidence in the NDA’s performance, predicting a victory with over 200 seats in Bihar’s 243-seat assembly. He credited this potential success to the "double-engine government" model, referring to BJP’s governance at both the state and national levels.
Choudhary also took jabs at RJD’s past governance, reminding people of the "lawlessness and criminal activities" during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure. He ridiculed Tejashwi’s election promises, accusing him of contradicting past policies implemented by the RJD.
On the role of NDA allies, Choudhary praised Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan, calling him "a tall leader who strengthens the coalition." He stressed that the NDA remains strong and united under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
