In response to recent comments by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president and Bihar Assembly Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's health, his son Nishant Kumar came forward to assuage all fears, vouching for the fact that his father was in top health.
Talking to the media at Patna airport on Friday, Nishant Kumar said, "My father is 100 per cent fit."
He also appealed to the people of Bihar to give their support to Nitish Kumar and re-elect him as Chief Minister in the 2025 Assembly elections, highlighting the developmental activities and welfare schemes implemented since 2005 under his rule.
Nishant's open show of support for his father's health and rule has been generating rumors regarding his potential entry into politics. This rumor has further gained traction after his recent outing at a public function in Bakhtiyarpur on January 17, where he urged people to support his father's rule.
While there are some political leaders, such as former MP Anand Mohan, who have expressed support for Nishant Kumar's possible political foray, others refer to a contradiction in the light of Nitish Kumar's earlier criticism of dynastic politics.
In the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), views are also split. While some party members support Nishant taking the lead to carry on his father's political legacy, others, such as JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, have rubbished these rumors as unfounded.
When questioned regarding his political ambitions, Nishant Kumar was evasive, adding to speculations regarding his potential future in politics.
In the meantime, Tejashwi Yadav has stepped up his attacks on Nitish Kumar, claiming that the Chief Minister is "mentally and physically exhausted" and that Bihar's government is being governed by retired bureaucrats.
The RJD leader went a step further, likening Nitish Kumar to an outdated vehicle, remarking that just as cars older than 15 years are prohibited on the roads due to pollution concerns, Kumar, after two decades in power, has lost his effectiveness.
These political developments unfolding emphasize Bihar's changing scenario, where leadership efficacy, succession strategies, and party ideologies take center stage as the state prepares for the pivotal 2025 elections.
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