This special report from India Today's 'Elections on my Plate' delves into the political stature of Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, amidst a challenging election. Featuring an exclusive interview with his key aide and JDU's National Working President, Sanjay Kumar Jha, the program scrutinizes the critical question of whether Kumar is still in control or being directed by his allies. The sharpest criticism comes from the opposition, with Tejashwi Yadav alleging, 'Nitish ji now is a puppet in the hands of a coterie and in the hands of Delhi'. The report travels to Kumar's ancestral village, Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda, to gauge voter sentiment, particularly among women, who are beneficiaries of schemes like the Jeevika program, which provided ₹10,000 to many just before the polls. It explores the dichotomy of his image as 'Sushasan Babu' versus the growing fatigue after nearly two decades in power and a rising demand for a new, younger leader.
00:00Suddenly got very dark and gray and it's going to rain.
00:03So we are heading back to Patna.
00:05Remember, there is another side to the Battle of Bihar.
00:10We've looked at the Tejasvi factor.
00:13What about the Nitish Kumar factor?
00:16India's chief minister who's been sworn in the maximum number of times.
00:30Now, Nitish Kumar has been chief minister of Bihar for almost 20 years with one small break.
00:40That's a tribute in a way both to his resilience and his relevance.
00:45Some would say his survival instincts.
00:48Whichever way you look at it, as Nitish Kumar approaches his 75th birthday,
00:53his critics say that Nitish Kumar now is controlled by Delhi
00:57and a coterie within his Jantadal United.
01:01How true is that allegation?
01:03We thought we'd catch up with one of those key aides of Nitish Kumar.
01:08Sanjay Kumar Jha, the Rajya Sabha MP and the working president of the JDU
01:13to find out what's the secret sauce of Hindi Heartland's longest serving chief minister.
01:21Namaskar Sanjay Ji, how are you?
01:24Lovely.
01:25You guys make a garden good in Patna, come, come.
01:28But tell me, is this the most difficult election in a way that you and Nitish ji are facing?
01:34Because when I met Tejasvi ji, they said that Nitish ji now is a puppet in the hands of a coterie
01:44and in the hands of Delhi.
01:48No, 2020 was a tougher election than this.
01:522020 was a tougher one because it was a backdrop of COVID.
01:55COVID, then alliance with the issues, most background, but this time the alliance is perfect.
02:02The response is perfect.
02:03His work is there in the ground.
02:05The response is very good.
02:06But this charge that he is physically ailing and now controlled by the Sanjay Jha's of the world and by the BJP, how true is that?
02:16It's absolutely false.
02:19Last two days, there was rain in Patna.
02:22They have a black past record.
02:25What do they have to say to you?
02:26I mean, Nitish Kumar ji has switched sides on more than one occasion.
02:39No, no, you have seen Bihar politics for long.
02:44Those who have seen that era of RJD and those who have seen Nitish Kumar's government, at least people like you have seen both the era.
02:55What difference, what difference, what difference, having a clean chief minister, Bihar have not seen?
03:18Governance, you travel Bihar road, if I name it, woman empowerment, probably best in the country.
03:27You mentioned women's empowerment.
03:29Now, the charge being made is this 10,000 rupees under the Mukhe Mantri Rozgar Yojana.
03:34It was given just one week before the elections and it's being given even while the election campaign is on.
03:40According to Tejasvi Yadav, this is a bribe.
03:43Or, you know, that in the middle of an election, you're giving 10,000 rupees to women.
03:47Is that not bribe?
03:48You elected for five years.
03:52Yes.
03:53Five years till the time election is announced, you have to work.
03:57That is the mandate.
03:58That is the same in the book of Sanbidhan.
04:00No, it is in Sanbidhan.
04:01No, it is in Sanbidhan.
04:02Is it morality that one week before the election, you announce a new scheme, 10,000 rupees, and you're giving the money just before elections?
04:09No, you have to see women's empowerment as well as how they have empowered them in the past five years.
04:15The other issue that I raised about being dictated by Delhi and that there is a coterie led by Sanjay Jha that takes decisions.
04:23No one can dictate Niti Kumar.
04:24But will he shift again after the election?
04:26There are two speculations, Sanjay Ji.
04:30One, that after the election, BJP will do an Eknath Shinde and appoint one of their own chief ministers and Niti Ji will not make it.
04:36Niti Kumar time and again has said publicly it was a mistake to leave the BJP.
04:45To leave the BJP.
04:46Public announcement had not once, maybe a dozen times he said.
04:52So, we are together.
04:55Sanjay Ji, you are now really, you know how to very carefully dodge all my bouncers, but Sanjay Ji has got a treat for us.
05:03He said that when you come to my house, you have to have a flavor of Bihar because this is elections on my plate.
05:09Have you made something for Bihar?
05:12Okay, let's have some Satu Paratha and then we are going to test the Niti Sh factor.
05:20Come with me.
05:33If NDA wins, Niti Sh Kumar chief minister 100%
05:42No question?
05:42100%
05:43Niti Sh Kumar will not be made Eknath Shinde?
05:45No, no, not at all.
05:46How do you describe the relationship between Niti Sh Kumar and Narendra Modi?
05:50Superb.
05:51Superb?
05:52Superb.
05:53Elections on my plate. This is what I have been missing.
06:12Our travels across Bihar have now brought us to Kalyan Bigha, the village of Chief Minister Niti Sh Kumar in the district of Nalanda.
06:33Now, Niti Sh Kumar has over the years projected himself as Sushasan Babu or a governance guru in contrast to a Lalu Prasad who was the charismatic populist.
06:45Niti Sh's vote bank has silently been cultivated among women voters or the Mahila vote in particular through a series of measures including Jivika didis who have set up self-help groups, many of whom have been provided 10,000 rupees each just before the elections.
07:04Will the woman vote stay with Niti Sh Kumar is a crucial question or has fatigue set in after 20 years in power?
07:13Let's try and find out in Niti Sh's home village.
07:17Niti Sh Kumar has a good job for 20 years.
07:41Hello Madam, how are you?
07:55Do you get this money or not?
08:01Do you get this money?
08:03Do you get this money?
08:06Yes, I do.
08:08Madam, what are you doing?
08:11Yes, but I don't get this money.
08:13Do you get this money?
08:14Why?
08:15I don't know.
08:16What will you do?
08:18I will do it.
08:19I don't know.
08:20I don't know.
08:21I don't know.
08:22I don't know.
08:23I don't know.
08:24For this?
08:25For this?
08:26Tell me.
08:27Is there any benefit from Nityish Kumar?
08:30Sir, it's like that.
08:32From Nityish Kumar, there is no benefit from Nityish Kumar.
08:37The run of the roads, they have covered.
08:39Yes, they did deliver.
08:40Yes.
08:41From Nityish Kumar, there are so many roads that are coming,
08:44and you have a road and your friends.
08:46Since the road has been over 20 years,
08:48is there something you've got done?
08:50Right now, nothing happened.
08:51Nothing happened.
08:52Nothing happened.
08:53Nothing happened.
08:54You're even here.
08:55You're getting 10,000 for a month.
08:56You're getting 10,000 for a month.
08:57You're getting their money.
08:58How are you getting your money?
08:59Hi, Mr. I'm a Muslim.
09:01I'm a Christian.
09:02I'm a Christian.
09:04I'm a Christian.
09:05I'm a Christian.
09:06Now, I'm a Christian.
09:07I'm a Christian.
09:08Mr. Mdome, as you said,
09:10Mr. Mdome, you're a chief minister,
09:13CM are Jivikadidin.
09:14What do you mean?
09:16I'm a community mobilizer.
09:18You're a community mixer.
09:19CM, you're not a chief minister,
09:20it's a community mobilizer.
09:22What do you think people think this is different?
Be the first to comment