CM of Bihar Nitish Kumar compliments PM Narendra Modi while criticizing UPA regimes and dynastic politics

PATNA: Hours after Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, dealt the Congress a blow by announcing that she would stand alone in the state’s Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar, also attacked the other member of the INDIA bloc, questioning the previous UPA governments at the Center for not answering his repeated requests to award the Bharat Ratna to socialist leader Karpoori Thakur.

While applauding PM Narendra Modi’s administration for granting the nation’s highest civilian honor to the forerunner of quota politics, Nitish also criticized dynasty politics.
Speaking at a JD(U)-organized rally for Karpoori’s 100th birthday, Nitish stated: “I have been asking the central governments for this (Bharat Ratna) ever since I came to power (in Bihar) in 2005. This request will continue till 2023. I am grateful to PM Modi and the national government for meeting my demand, which was ultimately met by the current Narendra Modi administration.”
“Karpoori’s son and MP, Ramnath Thakur, informed me that the PM had spoken with him. But the PM didn’t give me a call. Nevertheless, I would want to thank him (the PM) via media representatives. I want to tell him, ‘You may take credit without considering what we accomplished.'”
Regarding dynastic politics, Nitish said, “Karpoori ji never did that in his life; many people these days are more focused on promoting their own family in politics.” Following in Karpoori’s footsteps, he said, “I also have never promoted my own family; rather, I care about pushing others from the party.” Nitish went on to say that he did not support Ramnath Thakur, the son of Karpoori, till after the socialist leader passed away.
Remarkably, to commemorate the centennial of Karpoori’s birth, the RJD, a partner in the Nitish coalition, arranged a separate event here. Lalu Prasad, the leader of the party, and his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the deputy chief minister, spoke at the event.
Nitish’s remarks on dynasty politics were viewed by analysts as a subliminal allusion to his partner Lalu Prasad, who has come under fire for advocating “parivarvad” in the political sphere. Five of Lalu’s family members are now involved in politics. Their oldest daughter, Misa Bharti, is an MP, but his wife, Rabri Devi, is an MLC and was formerly the chief minister of India. Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, the sons of Lalu-Rabri, are both ministers in the current administration.