Nitish Kumar with PM Modi in Bihar(L) and Akhilesh Yadav
Credit: PTI Photos
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday that JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar would not continue as the chief minister of Bihar following the assembly elections because the BJP was "using" him to win the polls.
He asserted that RJD's Tejashwi Yadav will be appointed chief minister following the Mahagathbandhan's election victory, and that Bihar is calling for change and a path to a better and more affluent future.
Speaking to reporters in Ghazipur, Yadav took a swipe at Nitish Kumar and said, "He is definitely the BJP's 'Chunavi dulha', but for the post (of CM) he is not the 'dulha' (groom)."
"The BJP, under a conspiracy, is using Nitish Kumar. The INDIA bloc was making him the prime ministerial face. Today, he is only a face for the sake of elections," he remarked.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister further said, "I am telling you again, the people of Bihar know everything. Even leaders from the opposition platforms are saying that Nitish Kumar has been brought only for election purposes."
Yadav predicted the BJP would not make Kumar the chief minister after the elections. "You can ask on what basis I'm saying this. Look at what happened in Maharashtra and other states. Those who were projected as faces before elections were not made chief ministers later. The same will happen in Bihar too," he claimed.
Extending his full support to RLD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "Tejashwi Yadav is going to become the chief minister. We are all in his support. And not only are we supporting him, but we are also ready to help in running the government in every possible way -- to guide him and assist wherever needed."
On Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had charged the BJP with running the government in Bihar "through remote control", using the face of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha made the remark in Muzaffarpur district, where he addressed his maiden election rally in the state.
"I agree with Tejashwi Yadav, who spoke just before me, that the government in Bihar is being run through remote control. They are simply using the face of Nitish Kumar," claimed Gandhi.
(With PTI inputs)