Nitish Kumar Targets Lalu Yadav Over Women’s Issues, Vows Loyalty to NDA

Patna, Oct 2025 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on his longtime rival Lalu Prasad Yadav, accusing him of doing “nothing for women” during his tenure and defending his wife Rabri Devi even after she was chargesheeted in the fodder scam. Addressing his first election rally in Minapur constituency of Muzaffarpur district, the JDU president, seeking a fifth consecutive term, said his past experiences with the RJD had convinced him to remain firmly with the NDA.

Speaking before a large crowd, Kumar highlighted his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, contrasting it with the “neglect of the past.” Referring to the Chief Minister Women’s Employment Scheme, under which ₹10,000 has been directly transferred to the accounts of over 10 million beneficiaries, Kumar said, “We have taken historic steps to empower women. Did those who ruled earlier do anything for them? They didn’t care. And when things got too bad, he made his wife the Chief Minister.”

Without naming Lalu Prasad Yadav, Kumar referred to the controversial appointment of Rabri Devi in 1997 after Yadav resigned amid corruption charges. The move, he said, symbolized the RJD’s disregard for democratic accountability.

Recalling his own political journey, Kumar reminded voters that his alliances with the RJD in 2015 and again in 2022 both collapsed within two years. “Due to circumstances, I had to join hands with them twice,” he said. “But it didn’t take me long to realize that nothing good could come from that partnership. Now, I have returned to the NDA permanently.”

Kumar also took the opportunity to underline his government’s record on infrastructure, education, and healthcare, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for extending vital support to Bihar’s development. “The state has seen visible progress in every field—from better roads and bridges to improved school enrollment and healthcare delivery,” he said.

Contrasting the present with the past, the Chief Minister reminded voters of the “lawlessness and fear” that defined Bihar during Lalu’s rule. “Before we took over, the state was in the grip of an atmosphere of terror. Criminals operated freely under political protection. Today, the situation has changed drastically. Law and order have improved, and people can move freely without fear,” he said.

Kumar also emphasized his administration’s commitment to communal harmony, citing steps like fencing religious places and resolving local disputes through community dialogue. “Even tensions between Hindus and Muslims have declined because we care for both communities equally,” he said.

As campaigning intensifies ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar’s remarks signal both a defense of his governance record and a reaffirmation of his loyalty to the BJP-led NDA, distancing himself completely from any future ties with the RJD.

The Chief Minister concluded his address by appealing to voters to “trust experience and development over empty promises,” asserting that “Bihar’s future lies in continuity and stability, not in chaos and corruption.”