Chirag Paswan slams Nitish Kumar for insulting people’s mandate, seeks fresh polls

As Nitish Kumar snapped ties with BJP, LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan Tuesday slammed the Bihar chief minister for insulting the people’s mandate once again and demanded the imposition of President’s Rule in the state followed by fresh elections. Paswan also came out in support of the BJP amid the political turmoil in Bihar and said the saffron party had accepted everything that Kumar wanted as chief minister and even compromised on its own policies. “Nitish Kumar has once again insulted the people’s mandate. He has lost his credibility… Is it a joke? At one time you go with somebody and the other time with someone else,” Paswan told reporters here.

“I request the governor to recommend the imposition of President’s Rule in the state. Elections should be held for a fresh mandate,” the Jamui MP added. Paswan alleged that Kumar has quit the NDA to join hands with the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of the opposition parties “once again” just to achieve his personal ambitions. “There is no public interest involved in his decision here. For Nitish Kumar, it has always been about the ‘kursi’ (seat of power),” the LJP (Ram Vilas) leader charged, adding that “he wants to remain the chief minister and be projected as the Opposition’s PM candidate in 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Ridiculing Kumar for snapping ties with the BJP, Paswan said it was time for him to address the issue of unemployment and drought in parts of Bihar but he chose to pursue his personal ambitions. “But, Nitish Kumar cannot stay with anybody (ally) for long. Even if a government is formed now with the opposition parties’ support to JD-U, it won’t last long. Mid-term elections are imminent in Bihar,” he said. “That’s why I am saying it is necessary that mid-term elections are held for a fresh mandate,” he said. The JD(U) has lost its credibility due to Kumar and the party will score a “zero” if assembly elections are held in Bihar, he added.