Vote if You Like My Work: Nitish Starts Bihar Polls Campaign Trail

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar 

(Photo: PTI)

Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) President Nitish Kumar launched his party’s campaign trail on Monday, 12 October, ahead of Bihar Assembly elections.

Addressing the public at his virtual rally, Kumar, according to NDTV, asked the people to vote for his track record of a fifth term.

“If you like my work, then please vote for me. Otherwise, you have the liberty to choose your candidate.”

Nitish Kumar, according to NDTV

The rally was originally planned for 6 September but was postponed due to week-long national mourning, following the death of former President Pranab Mukherjee.

He also asked people to decide on the basis of the work done, and said if given another chance, he will work tirelessly.

Further, according to NDTV, he attacked his estranged friend Lalu Yadav’s son Tejashwi, who is presently at the helm of Rashtriya Janata Dal, and asked people to beware of his promise of 10 lakh jobs at his first cabinet meeting.

NDTV also reported that Kumar did not take take Yadav’s name, but said:

“You (the voters) should find out how many cabinet meetings used to take place during his parents’ 15-year-rule”.

WHAT ELSE DID NITISH KUMAR SAY?

Kumar reportedly promised to provide skill training to young people of the state and more urbanisation, this time around, in addition to all the commitments made in 2015.

According to NDTV, he further said that he was unhappy that, despite his best efforts, not much industrialisation had taken place in Bihar so far, and lamented the fact the industrialists were reluctant about coming to Bihar.

BACKGROUND

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar Jha, JD(U) National General Secretary, has said that he will be addressing people in a total of 35 assembly constituencies over the next couple of days.

“The campaign will be through virtual mode on 12 and 13 October. From 14 October, he is likely to fly to different parts to address election meetings, while remaining physically present,” Jha was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The digital platform for the campaign trail has been developed by a group of IITians from Bihar. It has been developed in a way that limits the scope for campaigning on the ground and according to detailed COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, reported Hindustan Times.

Jha also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is chalking out PM Modi's campaign plan. Although the JD(U) doesn’t have details, the Bihar Chief Minister and Prime Minister Modi will be sharing the stage on a number of occasions.

Ahead of the rally, Patna and various other towns have been dotted with posters, banners on its main roads to create the poll environment.

Posters have been inked with “Nyay ke saath tarakki, Nitish ki baat pakki (Development with justice, that is what makes Nitish’s words assuring),” reported Hindustan Times.

(With inputs from NDTV, PTI and Hindustan Times)