Nitish Kumar

"We are doing caste-based surveys in a better way and it will become a landmark for others. The data of the survey will be available in the public domain. Once it would be completed, I am sure other state governments would definitely think of doing the same in their places," he said after attending his Janata Darbar.

The majority of the political parties including the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the RJD claimed that post the survey, the state government will be in a better position to make policies for marginalized people but the larger picture is to use it as a tool for a poll strategy against the BJP. The saffron party has a clear poll strategy to polarize Hindu voters which are in a majority in the country with a 80% vote share while 20% belongs to other religious groups including the Muslim community.

Visiting his home district Lakhisarai, he said: "We have received reports that 80 per cent of households where 'Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal' were facilitated in the state, these arrangements are either partially completed or shut. In some places, it required repair work. Issues related to installation of water tanks, and pipelines also appeared before us. The overall situation is extremely bad."

While remembering his early days as a student of an engineering college, he said: "When we used to study in engineering college, there was no girl in our class... it seemed so bad. Whenever any woman comes to our class, students use to gather in large numbers to see her. This was the situation at that time. Now see how many girls are studying in engineering and medical colleges."

Though JD-U leaders, including national President Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh claimed that the meeting was called for discussions on choosing the candidate for the coming Rajya Sabha elections, sources have said that Nitish Kumar may execute his "Paltimar" and he wants to discuss it with each and every MLA of the party.

While interacting with the media persons here, Nitish Kumar said that the meeting will soon be held here to discuss the issue. The Chief Minister, however, did not give the exact date and time of the meeting. "Through all party meetings, the leaders of different political parties will give suggestions on this issue. It will help us to decide the future course of action," the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader said.

"Mahatva Satya Ka Hota Hai (truth has an importance) and the truth is that Bihar has been walking on the development path. Who is saying that development works have not taken place in Bihar. I would not give any importance to it. I want to tell you to analyse whether development has taken place or not. You (media) should answer him about the development works being done in Bihar," Nitish Kumar said.

Hence, he is maintaining distance with BJP leaders and showing closeness to opposition leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Chirag Paswan in the recent past.

Ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state, he went to Babu Veer Kunwar Singh park and paid tribute at the freedom fighter's statue, surprising the BJP as the latter has been preparing to organise a mega event in Jagdishpur to commemorate the great icon. The BJP is organising this event to prove its power to the Janata Dal (United) and the RJD in Bihar.

Amit Shah, who arrived at the Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport on board a chartered plane at 12.20 p.m., was received by Governor Phagu Chauhan, Nitish Kumar, BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal and other senior leaders. A picture of the closed-door meeting was doing the rounds on social media, which shows Nitish Kumar sitting along side Shah and Jaiswal.