Ashok Gehlot Warns Nitish Kumar: BJP May Repeat 'Shinde Betrayal' in Bihar Elections

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot (File).

New Delhi:

Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to declare a chief ministerial candidate ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly election.

Gehlot issued a cautionary message to current Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, suggesting that the BJP would betray the Janata Dal United leader for political advantage, similar to their treatment of Maharashtra's Eknath Shinde last year.

According to Gehlot, Bihar faces deteriorating conditions in employment, education, and governance, making an opposition victory in November's elections crucial.

"The current political landscape in Bihar raises significant questions. Why is the BJP reluctant to officially name Nitish Kumar as their chief ministerial candidate?" Gehlot questioned, reinforcing the challenge issued by the opposition bloc after announcing Rashtriya Janata Dal's Tejashwi Yadav as their leading candidate.

He asserted this hesitation stems from the BJP's intention to deceive Nitish Kumar, drawing parallels to their handling of Shinde in Maharashtra.

The BJP had initially supported Shinde when he broke away from Uddhav Thackeray's faction in June 2022, leading a group of legislators into a BJP alliance that toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. While Shinde received the chief ministership as compensation, the BJP later had him step down in favor of Devendra Fadnavis.

"The BJP possesses extensive resources and is employing every possible tactic - financial power, administrative authority, and political manipulation - to contest these elections," Gehlot alleged. He accused the party of "merely wanting to secure victory by leveraging Nitish Kumar's public image." Even Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gehlot noted, had indicated that Nitish Kumar's tenure as Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister might be drawing to a close.

"Why the reluctance then? These unanswered questions create doubt among voters," Gehlot remarked.

After confirming Yadav's appointment as the opposition's chief ministerial candidate on Thursday, Gehlot stated, "Our leader is Tejashwi Yadav. They should now confirm their candidate."

Gehlot emphasized that the RJD leader was unanimously selected. "Our question remains straightforward... why haven't they announced their chief ministerial candidate? If the BJP claims they will contest under Nitish Kumar's leadership, what prevents them from officially declaring his candidacy?"

Additionally, Gehlot commended Rahul Gandhi for his 16-day rally, declaring it had positively influenced voters. With the Chhath festival underway, Gehlot suggested that the combination of Gandhi's grassroots campaign and the festival celebrations indicates "a shift in public sentiment."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi stated today that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would contest under Nitish Kumar's leadership, though he stopped short of explicitly identifying him as the alliance's chief ministerial candidate.