Prashant Kishor Stands Firm on Claims About Nitish Kumar's Fitness to Serve as Bihar Chief Minister

Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has reinforced his assertion that Nitish Kumar is not mentally and physically fit to continue serving as the Chief Minister, despite the JDU leader appearing prepared to lead Bihar for another five-year term.

"I have no hesitation to say that Nitish Kumar ji is not mentally and physically well," Kishor stated during an interview on Walk the Talk with NDTV Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal.

Nitish Kumar, aged 74, will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time tomorrow.

Despite his Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) failing to secure any seats in its electoral debut during the recent Bihar elections, Kishor remained steadfast, reiterating his claim and affirming he would not retract his statement.

When questioned about making such comments regarding an elderly man's health, he responded, "How do you know? I don't have any lens to establish this." "It's not about being older or younger. If you are a chief minister who doesn't appear mentally and physically fit, I would say so. Whether it backfires or not, I am not taking my words back," Kishor declared.

He suggested that while such remarks might generate sympathy for Kumar, they do not determine election outcomes, alleging that the election was contested not by Nitish Kumar's party but by government machinery.

"Give me Rs 100 crore for an assembly election. You keep the sympathy and strategy. I can still win by buying votes...the government contested the election. The election was fought with government funds. Don't generalize it as if everything is hunky-dory in Bihar. Just because you won doesn't mean everything you're doing is right," he stated.

During the election campaign in Bihar, Kishor had criticized the JDU leader regarding his health, encouraging voters to look beyond him, citing his age and supposed inability to effectively govern Bihar.

A video of Kumar from last month drew attention to his unusual behavior, with opposition politicians claiming he no longer possesses the capacity to lead the government. In the video, Kumar was seen sitting with folded hands, looking sideways and smiling.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav described it as "erratic behavior" and alleged that the Chief Minister has been conducting himself in a manner indicating "he is not in the proper state of mind."