With the high-stakes Bihar assembly elections just days away, Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has made a direct and personal appeal to the electorate, urging them to grant him and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) "one more chance" to govern the state.
In a video message disseminated by his party on social media platform X, Kumar positioned the NDA as the only coalition capable of steering Bihar towards prosperity, asserting that the "pace of development has increased a lot" under his leadership.
The electoral battle for the 243-seat assembly is set to unfold in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the verdict scheduled for declaration on November 14. Kumar’s message, arriving at the crescendo of the campaign, is a clear bid to consolidate the NDA's support base.
"I request you to make the NDA candidates victorious in the assembly elections this time," the Chief Minister implored. "Give us, the NDA, one more chance. After this, more work will be done, which will develop Bihar so much that it will be included in the top states."
The appeal for a renewed mandate was coupled with a sharp critique of the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which ruled the state before Kumar first took office in 2005. Painting a grim picture of that era, Kumar stated that the condition of Bihar was "extremely poor" at the time, so much so that "being called a Bihari was a matter of insult."
He contrasted this with his own tenure, claiming to have "worked day and night with full honesty and hard work" to reverse the state's fortunes. "Being a Bihari is not a matter of insult, but a matter of respect now," Kumar asserted, framing the election as a choice between the progress of the present and the "lawlessness" of the past.
The JDU leader outlined his government's achievements across key sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and generating employment opportunities for the youth. He emphasized that his administration's policies have been inclusive, benefiting every section of society, with a special focus on Dalits and backward classes.
A significant part of his address was dedicated to highlighting his government's work on women's empowerment. Taking a dig at previous regimes, Kumar said, "The previous government did not do any work for women. We have now made women so strong that they are no longer dependent on anyone and can can do all the work for their families and children."
As Bihar heads into a tightly contested election, Nitish Kumar's "one more chance" plea is the central theme of the NDA's final argument to the voters. It is a promise of accelerated development and a warning against reverting to the past, setting the stage for a verdict that will determine the political trajectory of the state for the next five years.
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