Nitish Kumar wins trust vote in Bihar assembly, attacks former ally BJP for doing nothing except 'publicity'

Nitish Kumar also rejected the BJP's charge that his latest volte-face was aimed at becoming the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition camp and asserted that he had "no personal ambitions".

New Delhi: The Nitish Kumar-led newly-formed 'Mahagathbandhan' government in Bihar on Wednesday (August 24, 2022) comfortably won the motion of confidence amid a walkout staged by BJP MLAs. Altogether 160 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion while no vote was cast against the same. BJP MLAs, who staged a walkout while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was delivering his speech, stormed the House demanding that the deputy speaker not waste time on a redundant headcount but take up businesses scheduled for the day and announced boycott of the proceedings.

During his speech that lasted for about half an hour, Nitish Kumar made indirect references to rebellion by LJP's Chirag Paswan, allegedly at BJP's behest, and attempts to cause a split in JD(U) through his former protege RCP Singh.

Nitish Kumar denies harbouring any prime ministerial ambitions

The JD(U) chief also rejected the BJP's charge that his latest volte-face was aimed at becoming the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition camp and asserted that he had "no personal ambitions".

He, however, spoke of his interactions with leaders from across the country whom he has urged to stay united for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Vajpayee, Advani treated me with respect: Nitish Kumar

He also recounted his old association with the BJP and underscored the contrast between the current dispensation and the era of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, and Murli Manohar Joshi.

"Leaders like Vajpayee, Advani treated me with respect", Kumar said.

He also pointed out that after the 2020 Bihar assembly polls, when he was requested by the BJP to continue despite a diminution in JD(U)'s tally, he felt disappointed at many old ministers like Sushil Kumar Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav and Prem Kumar being dropped.

"But I did not say anything since it was an internal matter of their party. They (BJP MLAs) have run away. Had they stayed back, I would have recalled many things which could have caused them discomfort", said Kumar.

Only advertisement is being done: Nitish Kumar slams BJP

Without mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi by name, he said that the current dispensation "does little except publicity ('prachar prasar')".

"We (RJD and JDU) have taken the pledge to work together for the development of Bihar. Leaders from across the country called me and congratulated me on this decision and I urged all of them to fight together in the 2024 elections. Is there any work being done by Delhi (Centre)? Only advertisement is being done," Kumar said.

As BJP MLAs protested, he added, "Speak against me. May be this will earn you some rewards from your political bosses."

The Bihar CM also questioned the BJP's role in the freedom struggle of the country and alleged that they will "finish even Bapu" (Mahatma Gandhi).

"You were saying things about the 75th year of Independence. Where were you in the freedom struggle? In the end, they will finish even Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi). We have come together. We will put forward everything in front of every village and every section of society. Their only work is to create trouble in society. When everybody will come together, nobody will ask about them," he said.

Nitish Kumar also expressed displeasure over frequent references by BJP leaders to the JD(U)'s inferior numerical strength and reminded the saffron party of assembly elections of 2005 and 2010, besides the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, when "we had won far too many seats".

(With agency inputs)