PATNA: Two major allies of the ruling NDA in Bihar have charted out separate programmes to highlight the contributions of their respective leaders, former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state’s development.
Referring to Nitish Kumar’s role in Bihar’s development, JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha said on Tuesday that nobody could gain political ground in the state by ignoring him.
“Bihar’s politics revolves around Nitish Kumar,” he asserted.
He was speaking at a JD(U) workers’ meeting in Darbhanga. Jha said people continued to have affection and respect for Nitish Kumar even after he relinquished the chief minister’s post and moved to the Upper House of Parliament.
He said Nitish had formed the JD(U) and that the party would continue to highlight the development work carried out in Bihar under his leadership.
“Nitish Ji’s political career revolved around Bihar and its development,” he told the workers. Jha said Nitish Kumar was credited with changing people’s perception of Bihar outside the state and abroad.
“People used to taunt Biharis and their chief minister had become a laughingstock. But Nitish Ji changed people’s perception,” he asserted.
Jha said Nitish had worked for the welfare of all sections of society. “So, it is the workers’ responsibility to carry forward his work and contribution to the state,” he said, adding that development works undertaken during Nitish’s tenure must be highlighted.
He revealed that Nitish Kumar would undertake a statewide tour in October. “I have also urged him to visit Darbhanga during his next month’s tour,” he told the workers at the meeting.
Jha’s statement came at a time when another major NDA ally, the BJP, is set to launch a month-long programme to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and commemorate his 25 years in public life.
Talking to media persons in Patna, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said the ‘Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan’ would feature blood donation drives, cultural events and other outreach initiatives from September 17.
September 17 is Modi’s birthday, while October 7 will mark 25 years since he first took oath as Gujarat chief minister in 2001. He later became Prime Minister in 2014.
Saraogi said the party had decided to organise the month-long programme to highlight Modi’s “long service to the nation”.
“An ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ programme will be held at 7 pm on September 17, during which beneficiaries of central and state government schemes will light earthen lamps at their homes to express gratitude to the prime minister and bless him on his birthday,” he said.
The BJP’s youth wing will organise blood donation drives across the state from September 17, he added.
Saraogi said that as part of ‘Seva Sansmaran’, musical and theatrical performances would be staged in villages, towns and other parts of the state between September 17 and October 2 to highlight Modi’s public service.
“On October 7, the party will organise a ‘Seva Jyoti Yatra’ to mark Modi’s 25 years in public office. Torches and vehicles of uniform design will travel from villages and converge at district headquarters,” he said.
A ‘Jan Sevak Mahakumbh’ will be held on October 17, with around 1.25 lakh elected public representatives, from panchayat members to MPs, expected to assemble at a designated venue and sing all six stanzas of “Vande Mataram”.
Adjudicators from Guinness World Records will be present to evaluate the proposed world record attempt, Saraogi said.