‘Got Muslim Votes Even As Clashes Continued’: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s Swipe At Congress, RJD

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday criticised the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress alliance, alleging that previous governments sought Muslim votes but failed to prevent communal riots.  Speaking at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, the Janata Dal (United) chief highlighted the law-and-order situation before his government assumed power in 2005. The event was held in Bhagalpur, a city that witnessed one of Bihar’s worst communal riots in 1989, in which nearly 1,000 people were killed.  

“What was the condition when we took over in 2005? Because of bad law and order, people felt scared of stepping out late in the day,” CM Nitish Kumar said, without naming any party, as quoted by news agency PTI. “Even Hindu-Muslim clashes were the order of the day. They would keep taking Muslim votes even as clashes would continue. Things changed only after we formed a government here.”  

VIDEO | Speaking during an event in Bhagalpur, Bihar CM (@NitishKumar) says, “When we formed the government for the first time in 2005… what was the situation here (in Bihar)… the situation was so bad that people avoided going out of their house in the evening. There were… pic.twitter.com/QwUMjKU5Kh

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 24, 2025

CM Nitish has repeatedly listed the prosecution and punishment of those responsible for the Bhagalpur riots— which occurred under Congress rule— as one of his key achievements. He has maintained that during the 15-year rule of the RJD, which began in 1990, the accused were shielded as they were supporters of the party.  

The JD(U) leader, whose party is a key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, expressed gratitude to Modi for the Union government’s support to Bihar and praised the latest budget for its announcements benefiting the state.  

“We have come a long way. The state’s budget has increased manifold. I thank the PM for his help and hope his generosity will continue in future. Bihar looks forward to marching ahead under his leadership,” the Bihar Chief Minister said.

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Nitish Kumar To Decide On Son’s Political Entry: Bihar Minister

Meanwhile, Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar said that any decision regarding Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, entering politics rests solely with the Chief Minister.  

“Whether Nishant ji joins politics or not depends on Nitish Kumar. This decision is not possible without his approval. However, there is no doubt that Nishant Kumar has the knowledge and grasp of Bihar’s political landscape,” Shravan Kumar told reporters in Ballia, where he was attending a private function, as per PTI.  

He also clarified that Nitish Kumar did not attend Rekha Gupta’s swearing-in as Delhi Chief Minister due to a pre-scheduled programme in Nalanda. The JD(U) was represented at the event by the party’s working president Sanjay Jha and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh.