‘Laadla CM’ Only for Votes? Prashant Kishor Says PM Modi Will Drop Nitish Kumar After Elections

Bettiah/Patna: Jan Suraj Party founder Prashant Kishor has claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will not return to power after the next elections, asserting that the BJP will replace him with its own leader. Addressing a press conference in Bettiah, West Champaran, on March 5, Kishor alleged that the BJP is merely using Nitish as a “mask” to secure votes and will discard him once the elections are over.

“Modi ji was calling Nitish ji the ‘Laadla CM’ (beloved CM) of Bihar when he visited the state. I appeal to Modi ji—next time he comes, he should declare that this ‘Laadla’ will remain CM for the next five years. But BJP will never do that because they plan to remove him after winning the election.”

Kishor further predicted that Kumar’s party, JD(U), will perform so poorly that he will have no bargaining power post-election. “This time, the people have made up their minds—his party will win so few seats that switching sides will be meaningless,” he said.

‘Nitish Lacks the Strength to Go It Alone’

Dismissing speculation that Kumar could realign with the opposition, Kishor accused the CM of lacking the political will to contest elections independently. “Barring 2015, Nitish Kumar has never fought an election without BJP’s power, money, and organisational support. He does not have the courage to fight alone,” Kishor claimed.

Budget Criticism: ‘No Roadmap for Bihar’s Progress’

Kishor also took aim at the Bihar government’s recently presented budget, calling it a “hoax” that offers no solutions for migration, education, or job creation. He argued that for nearly two decades, state budgets have failed to address core issues like per capita income growth and industrial development. “Without a concrete policy, how will Bihar improve?” he questioned.