PATNA: On the eve of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s scheduled visit to Delhi, Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Singh Chaudhary confirmed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
“Bihar is progressing under Nitish’s leadership,” Chaudhary asserted while speaking to the media after attending an event at IIT-Patna. He also stated that the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] president had confirmed his continued alliance with the NDA.
“Ever since Nitish took over the reins, Bihar has been progressing,” Chaudhary said, adding that the central government had allocated sufficient funds to aid this development. “Be it new airports or highways, the Union government is taking a special interest in improving the state’s infrastructure. This is good for the people of Bihar,” he remarked.
Responding to a query, Chaudhary expressed confidence in the NDA’s victory in the assembly elections. “The Prime Minister’s positive approach and Nitish’s leadership will help Bihar develop at par with other states,” he said, adding that the outcome of the Delhi elections would influence Bihar as well.
Chaudhary later met Nitish Kumar at his official residence, 1 Anne Marg, where the two leaders held discussions for about half an hour before leaving for the national capital. Nitish is also set to depart for New Delhi on Sunday evening, where he is expected to meet top BJP leaders to discuss seat-sharing arrangements among NDA allies.
The Bihar Assembly elections are scheduled for October-November, but both the NDA and the Grand Alliance (GA) have already begun preparations. At a joint meeting of NDA leaders in Khagaria, the alliance resolved to secure 225 out of 243 seats in the elections.
Speaking at the gathering, JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha expressed confidence in a historic victory. “We will not only form the next government but also create history in terms of seats,” he said.
BJP state president and Minister for Revenue and Land Reforms Deelip Jaiswal said that the large turnout at the NDA meeting had unsettled the opposition. “The result of the Delhi elections has boosted the morale of NDA workers in Bihar,” he added.