RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said on Saturday that he would be "happy" if Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, entered politics. He believes this could help "save" the JD(U) from the BJP and its other allies.
Speaking to reporters, Tejashwi dismissed Nishant’s recent appeal to voters, where he urged them to support his father in the upcoming elections, claiming Nitish Kumar was "100 per cent fit." Tejashwi responded with a quip, saying, "My father is fitter than his father."
He praised his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, for his contributions to the upliftment of marginalised communities, highlighting that it was under his leadership that Bihar implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations. Tejashwi also expressed goodwill toward Nishant, calling him "like a brother" and wishing him well in both his personal and political life. He even encouraged Nishant to consider marriage.
"If he enters politics, he has every right to do so. In fact, I would be happy if he does—it might give a fresh start to the JD(U), a party originally founded by the late Sharad Yadav," Tejashwi said.
He criticised Nitish Kumar’s current position, claiming that the Chief Minister has been "hijacked" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once questioned Nitish’s "DNA." He also pointed out that JD(U)’s allies, including Union Ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, had previously questioned Nitish Kumar’s leadership and mental fitness.
Also Read: Bihar class X student shot dead for not sharing answer sheet
Speculation about early elections
There have been growing speculations that Nishant, 47, might enter politics ahead of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled later this year, although neither he nor Nitish Kumar has officially confirmed this.
Tejashwi was also asked about a remark made by JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who hinted that the party was "ready for polls at any time." This has fueled speculation that elections might be held earlier than expected.
Responding to this, Tejashwi took a dig at the Election Commission, suggesting that it was working under BJP’s influence, similar to agencies like the ED and CBI.
"As for us, we are always ready for elections. We even fought the 2020 elections during the COVID-19 pandemic," he added. When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Bhagalpur on Monday, Tejashwi accused the BJP of neglecting Bihar.
"Now that they are done with Delhi, they will all rush to Bihar. They don’t care about the state; they only want to hold onto power," he remarked.
Also Read: Bihar class X student shot dead for not sharing answer sheet
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