There has been a buzz around Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, entering politics for a long time. While Nitish has not spoken on the issue so far, Nishant has also not given any clear indication that he wants to join politics. However, the Janata Dal (United) workers and leaders, including Nitish’s close aides, are saying that he should take a plunge into active politics. Senior JD(U) leader and minister Shravan Kumar has also joined the chorus and contended that Nishant should join politics without any further delay as it is already very late.
Power shock for Tej Pratap yet again
There seems no end to the problems of Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad. First, Lalu expelled him from the RJD and family for six years, which was followed by a humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections. Then, it was learnt that he hadn’t paid his electricity bills for his house at Beur in Patna since July 2022, resulting in outstanding dues of Rs 3.61 lakh. Now, there are reports that he has paid the bill. Recently, he hit the headlines when he had to vacate his official bungalow after he lost in the Bihar Assembly polls. He came third in Mahua constituency.
Former Bihar CM and alcohol back in focus
Former Bihar chief minister and HAM leader Jitan Ram Manjhi has been in spotlight for his views on Nitish Kumar’s prohibition. Recently, he said he has sent a third request to the present chief minister Nitish for reviewing the liquor ban. It states that if a labourer is going home after work and drinks alcohol, he shouldn’t be arrested. But the police let go of those with thousands of gallons of liquor, while they arrest the poor after making them take a breathalyzer test and send them to jail. “My father used to make liquor from mahua (raw material) and sugarcane juice; that kind of liquor is beneficial. Today, there are five lakh cases pending against the people from his community, Musahar.
Ramashankar
Our correspondent in Bihar
ramashankar@newindianexpress.com