Nitish is people’s CM, won’t leave in 2020, says JD(U)

PATNA: Nitish Kumar is the chief minister by virtue of people’s mandate and he shall continue to remain in office as long as Bihar needs him, the Janata Dal (United) said on Thursday. The party reaction came a day after Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) president Upendra Kushwaha claimed that the Bihar chief minister had confided in him about relinquishing chair after his ongoing tenure ends in 2020.

“The chief minister’s chair is no sweetmeat. Nitish was chosen by virtue of people’s mandate and he is successfully continuing on the chair because he has been delivering and living up to people’s expectations,” JD (U) spokesperson Ajay Alok said.

Senior party leader Maheswar Hazari added, “Nitish shall continue to remain CM even after 2020. Bihar needs him”.

Addressing a function organised by his party to mark Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary in Patna on Wednesday, Kushwaha had said that Kumar expressed desire not to continue beyond 2020. “I have ruled for 15 years. How long will I be the CM,” Kushwaha quoted Kumar as saying.

JD (U) general secretary Shyam Rajak hit out at Kush- waha saying that the RLSP chief and Nitish may be “brothers in arms”, but Bihar CM’s popularity remains unmatched.

Kushwaha, a source in the NDA said, is peeved over the manner in which he has been “sidelined” . The BJP has maintained a silence over the issue.

“He (Nitish) is power hungry. He had walked out of the grand alliance for power,” said Shivanand Tiwary, former MP and national vice-president of RJD.

Senior Congress leader and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, “We would not be surprised if it turns out that Kumar is reluctant to continue as CM. His current tenure is far from satisfactory . ... ”