K C Tyagi, advisor to Janata Dal (United) and former Rajya Sabha member, has defended party chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar amid the ongoing state election campaign. Tyagi dismissed opposition claims of "socialist fatigue" and addressed questions about Nitish Kumar's health, anti-incumbency concerns, and the emergence of new political challengers. He emphasized that Nitish Kumar remains mentally alert and physically capable, contrasting his condition favorably with RJD leader Lalu Prasad's health. Tyagi described Nitish as the last standing guardian of socialist legacy in India, carrying forward the ideology of leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Rammanohar Lohia. He criticized the Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav for making unfounded health allegations and dismissed his economic promises as unrealistic. Tyagi also expressed confidence that Nitish Kumar would continue as Chief Minister if the National Democratic Alliance wins, rejecting any comparison with Maharashtra's political developments. He described political strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party as lacking grassroots political training and unlikely to make significant impact in Bihar's complex political landscape.
Defending Nitish Kumar's Health and Socialist Legacy
K C Tyagi firmly rejected opposition claims about Nitish Kumar's deteriorating health, stating that the Chief Minister is mentally alert and does not require physical support while walking. He noted that Nitish Kumar's health is much better than Lalu Prasad's. Tyagi pointed out that Tejashwi Yadav had not raised health concerns when he served as Deputy Chief Minister under Nitish from August 2022 to January 2024. Describing Nitish as Bihar's most politically attractive and credible leader, Tyagi emphasized his role as the party's star campaigner. He portrayed Nitish Kumar as the last socialist leader continuing the legacy of the Congress Socialist Party founders, contrasting his inclusive politics with Lalu Prasad's divisive approach during the 1990s.
Dismissing Anti-Incumbency and Opposition Promises
Tyagi questioned what form of anti-incumbency could exist against a government that transformed Bihar's infrastructure through massive road, bridge, and building construction. He defended welfare schemes like 125 MW free power and Rs 10,000 grants to 1.41 crore women entrepreneurs as genuine empowerment measures rather than electoral freebies. He highlighted Nitish's women-centric initiatives, including bicycle schemes for girls in 2007, 50 percent panchayat reservation in 2006, and 35 percent job quota in 2016. Regarding Tejashwi Yadav's promise of jobs to every family, Tyagi calculated it would require Rs 9 lakh crore annually against Bihar's budget of less than Rs 3.25 lakh crore, dismissing it as fiscally impossible. He also suggested Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was unhappy with Tejashwi's prominence.
Source: Link