Tejashwi Yadav Says Nitish Kumar ‘Hijacked’, Rules Out NDA Return in Bihar Polls

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming he had been “hijacked” and asserting that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would not return to power in the upcoming state assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Congress’s top leadership, Yadav exuded confidence in the opposition alliance’s prospects in Bihar. He also said that the alliance would announce a unanimous chief ministerial candidate after consultations with all partners.

“The decision on the CM face will be taken collectively. Nitish ji has already been hijacked. NDA will not form the government in Bihar this time,” Yadav said. The next meeting of the alliance is scheduled to take place in Patna on April 17.

Yadav criticised the NDA’s performance in Bihar over the past two decades, accusing the state government of failing to improve basic indicators like income, migration, and development.

“Despite ruling for 20 years, Bihar continues to be the poorest state in the country. It has the lowest per capita income, the highest migration, and the lowest farmer earnings. We are prepared to contest the elections on real issues and will expose the shortcomings of this government,” he said.

Prashant Kishor Slams Nitish Kumar, Calls Upcoming Election His ‘Political Funeral’

Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj Party founder and political strategist Prashant Kishor also took a swipe at Nitish Kumar during a recent rally, calling the upcoming assembly elections the “political funeral” of the JD(U) leader.

“Nitish Kumar has betrayed the people of Bihar. Just as Lalu Prasad introduced ‘jungle raj’, Nitish has brought in a new kind of bureaucratic jungle raj. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who backs him, has also failed the people,” Kishor said.

He further accused the government of trying to disrupt his outreach, claiming that authorities had blocked nearly two lakh people from attending his rally.

Bihar is expected to go to the polls later this year, with the NDA—led by the JD(U) and BJP—facing a renewed challenge from the opposition Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD, Congress, and Left parties.