Nitish Kumar’s nickname of “Sushasan Babu” (Mr. Good Government) was endorsed by PM Modi. (Proceedings)
New Delhi:
Nitish Kumar’s nickname of Bihar’s chief minister “Sushasan babu“(Mr Good Governance) was endorsed on Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a former political rival who prior to the 2015 state elections had repeatedly referred to the state as”goonda raj“(the land without law).
In a video speech at a program to lay the groundwork for nine road projects in Bihar yesterday, Prime Minister Modi said: “In the next 1,000 days, six lakh villages will be connected by fiber optics and I hope in NitishHee will continue his sushasan (good governance) with firm determination in the development of Bihar. “
The Prime Minister’s seal of approval has brought smiles to the faces of Kumar’s Janata Dal United leaders, who have been resentful under criticism from the Lok Janshakti Party, an ally of Ram Vilas Paswan.
In the days after the coronavirus outbreak in the country, leaders of the LJP and a section within the BJP had criticized the handling of the situation by the Chief Minister, especially in relation to the return of migrant workers and students who study. in other states.
Mr. Kumar’s reputation as “Sushasan babu“They had received a beating for the issue, they had insisted. The argument was also used to push for a new face for the NDA in the state before the elections.
But the offer was dropped when Amit Shah confirmed Kumar in office and Prime Minister Modi made clear in his first election-related speech that Kumar is a unanimous choice.
“Bihar was behind in terms of development for many years; politics, cash shortages were some of the reasons,” Prime Minister Modi said earlier this month. “There was a time when there was no talk of road connectivity or internet connectivity. Being a landlocked state, Bihar faced many challenges … Nitish Kumar has played an important role in our goal towards a New India, New Bihar, “he added.
His comments have held out hope that the JDU will get the Big Brother treatment when it comes to sharing seats in the upcoming elections, party members said.
Kumar had met his point of a 50:50 seat turnout in last year’s Lok Sabha elections. But after that, he distanced himself from the BJP when Mr. Shah refused to assign more than one ministerial position to the JDU in the center.
Kumar, who had advocated for a higher turnout given his party’s performance in the elections, was upset and refused to join the government.
In the run-up to the state elections, the BJP, however, had not crossed the line with the five-time Chief Minister, who broke with the party in 2013 when Modi was announced as the NDA Prime Minister candidate. Thereafter, he won the state elections in alliance with Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress.
Kumar, however, had ended that Grand Alliance in July 2017 and joined the BJP again.
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