Nitish Kumar's son hopes populist measures will clinch another term in office for his father

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant on Sunday voiced hope that the people of the state will vote back to power his father who has come up with a slew of populist measures in recent past.

Nishant briefly interacted with journalists at 'Mahavir Sthan' in Patna, arguably the largest temple of Lord Hanuman in the state, where he had turned up on his birthday.

"My mother, while she was alive, used to conduct Rudrabhishek and feed the poor on this date. After her demise (in 2007), we have tried to keep up with the tradition", said Nishant, who is the only child of his parents.

To a query as to whether he prayed for his father's victory in the upcoming assembly polls, he reacted with a shy smile, before saying "elections are, indeed, close. I do hope that the people of Bihar will vote for the NDA and give my father another chance. He has done so much for Bihar".

He was asked whether he was sure that the 75-year-old JD(U) president, who is the longest-serving CM and now past his prime, was still doing a fine job.

Unfazed, the son spelt out a number of decisions approved by the father's cabinet in the recent past.

"Yes, he has done so much in the recent past. He has unveiled a programme for generating one crore jobs in the next five years. So many people have been recruited in various government departments. The 35 per cent quota for women has now been reserved for women hailing from Bihar. Also, power consumers in the state will be getting 125 units free", said Nishant.

The scion, who has in the recent past seen canvassing in favour of his father and rubbing shoulders with top JD(U) leaders, however, laughed off suggestions that his own political entry was imminent.

At the temple, Nishant was welcomed by Sayan Kunal, a member of the state board of religious trusts and son of late Acharya Kishore Kunal, an IPS turned religious leader who managed 'Mahavir Sthan' till his death.

Kunal, who is married to Shambhavi, the young Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP from Samastipur, later drove down to the chief minister's residence along with his wife.

Emerging from 1, Anney Marg, Shambhavi, whose father Ashok Choudhary is a JD(U) leader and an influential minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, told reporters "We are glad to be treated as family by the honourable chief minister, with whom we enjoyed the birthday cake and had a simple lunch of rice, pulses and pumpkin".

Replying to a query, she added, "It is for the JD(U) to decide whether Nishant bhaiya (elder brother) should himself contest elections. But as a young politician I am always for people from the current generation entering public life. Nishant bhaiya is a great human being and has a very good understanding of public affairs".