Amit Shah Hails Nitish Kumar’s Leadership, Says Bihar Freed From ‘Jungle Raj’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday lauded the governance record of Nitish Kumar, highlighting the Bihar Chief Minister’s two-decade tenure in the state’s leadership.

The praise came as Kumar filed his nomination for election to the Rajya Sabha, signalling a new phase in his long political career and paving the way for a leadership transition in Bihar.

Shah described Kumar as a ‘messiah of the poor’ and credited his administration with liberating the state from what he called the clutches of ‘Jungle Raj’.

The Union Home Minister accompanied the Chief Minister durin g the nomination process and exchanged greetings with him before the formal submission of documents.

In a message shared on social media platform X, Shah emphasised that the Nitish-led government had worked consistently for the welfare of Bihar’s citizens over the past twenty years.

He stated that Kumar’s dedicated leadership steered the state away from disorder and moved it firmly towards development and good governance.

HM Shah also shared photographs from the nomination filing, showing him standing beside the veteran leader.

HM Shah further remarked that Kumar’s vast administrative experience and deep policy insight would enrich debates in the Upper House. He said Kumar’s presence in the Rajya Sabha would strengthen the National Democratic Alliance’s commitment to the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.

Other NDA Candidates File Nomination

The Chief Minister filed his nomination alongside several other candidates. These included BJP state president Nitin Nabin, former Agiaon MLA Shivesh Kumar, Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur and NDA nominee Upendra Kushwaha.

Kushwaha’s candidature was finalised at the last moment after consultations among BJP leaders and their allies.

Nitish Kumar’s transition from state politics is widely viewed as the closing of a significant chapter in Bihar’s political history.

The formal shift will occur only after the Rajya Sabha elections conclude on March 16. Kumar has served as Bihar’s Chief Minister for a record ten terms since 2005.

Jitan Ram Manjhi led the government for several months, briefly pausing Nitish Kumar’s tenure as Chief Minister.

The change, however, followed setbacks faced by Janata Dal (United) in the 2014 parliamentary elections.

In an emotional message, Nitish Kumar expressed gratitude to the people of Bihar for their enduring trust. He pledged to continue working with dedication to realise the vision of a developed Bihar.

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