PATNA: The political atmosphere in the state was high on Friday when Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar made his first public appeal and appealed to the people to vote for his father in the upcoming assembly elections. It became dangerous. This is Nishant’s debut into political affairs, although he has kept a low profile so far.
Accompanied by his father, Nishant visited Bakhtiyarpur in Patna and laid flowers at the statues of prominent freedom fighters, including his grandfather Kaviraj Ramrahan Singh ‘Vaidya’. During his visit, he interacted with reporters and made his appeal, sparking debate across political circles.
“Ho sakega to pitaji ko, unki party ko aap sab janata vote karen, phir se raien (please vote for my father and his party if you can and give them another chance)” ” he said. Nishant added that his father had done good work for the nation. However, when asked if he would participate in politics himself, he chose not to comment. Mr. Nishant also extended his New Year greetings to the nation and recalled the contribution of his grandfather and other locals to the freedom movement. “My grandfather was a freedom fighter who went to prison for the freedom of the country,” he said.
The development provoked a fierce reaction from the opposition, which saw it as evidence of Nitish’s “declining mass appeal and charisma”. “The emotional public appeal highlights the helplessness of our son. This is shocking,” RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said. He even suggested that Nitish step down and hand over the leadership to Nishant. “If a doctor’s son becomes a doctor and an IAS officer’s son becomes an IAS officer, why can’t a politician’s son become a politician?” Yadav said in response to the Delhi assembly election results. he asked, anticipating major political developments in the state.
Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathore described Nishant’s involvement as part of a larger political strategy. “Nitish seems to be working on a calculated plan,” he said, predicting that state politics may take an unexpected turn in the near future.
Meanwhile, the BJP, a key ally of Nishant’s JD(U), supported Nishant’s statement. “The work the CM has done for Bihar is unparalleled. Nishant’s statement is a valid recognition of his father’s contribution,” said Prabhakar Mishra, a spokesperson for the BJP.
