Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated on April 14 that no one can replace Nitish Kumar in Bihar, emphasising the latter's significant contributions to the state.
Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, Yadav highlighted Kumar’s distinct image among the common people, particularly within backward communities.
“No one can replace Nitish Kumar. He had a different image among the common people and among the backwards… He did a lot of work in Bihar, and when it came to forming the INDIA alliance, all the people of the INDIA alliance, especially we socialists, were hoping that he would become the PM of the country by staying with us. But see the BJP’s game. Now he will not be able to become the PM. He will retire as a member of the Rajya Sabha after becoming an MP,” Yadav said.
This statement came as Samrat Choudhary was elevated as the NDA Legislative Party leader amidst ongoing political developments in Bihar. Earlier on the same day, Choudhary, the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and newly elected BJP Legislative Party leader, met Governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) at Lok Bhavan to stake a claim to form the government in the state.
Choudhary is set to assume the office of Bihar Chief Minister, becoming the first BJP Chief Minister of the state. He will succeed JD-U leader Nitish Kumar, who resigned as Chief Minister earlier that day and took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on April 10. The BJP and JD-U are the leading partners of the coalition government in Bihar.
On April 14, Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal announced that a National Democratic Alliance legislative meeting will be held soon. After his election as BJP Legislative Party leader, Samrat Choudhary expressed deep gratitude to the party’s central leadership and described his new role as a “sacred opportunity” to serve the people of the state.