Patna: Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the nomination programme of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections in Patna on Thursday, welcoming several Bihar leaders stepping into national politics.
Shah said he had come to support the nominations of Nitin Nabin, Nitish Kumar, Ramnath Thakur, Upendra Kushwaha and Shivesh Kumar. Addressing party workers and supporters, he said the entire NDA family and millions of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters across the country welcomed their participation in national politics.
Speaking about Nitin Nabin, he said the leader had played a significant and effective role in Bihar’s political landscape for many years. He credited Nabin’s organisational skills and political engagement for his rise within the party and said that through the Rajya Sabha he would now contribute to parliamentary debates and national policymaking.
The home minister also highlighted the nomination of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying it marked his return to national politics after a long gap. Shah noted that Nitish Kumar had served as the state’s chief minister since 2005 and described his tenure as a defining period in Bihar’s political history.
According to him, the state witnessed major changes during Nitish’s leadership, including efforts to move away from what he described as “jungle raj” and steps aimed at improving infrastructure and development. He said initiatives to expand road connectivity to villages and strengthen basic infrastructure helped accelerate Bihar’s growth.
Shah further praised Nitish’s political career, describing him as a leader known for simplicity and a clean public image. He noted that despite holding several key positions – including MLA, MP, Union Minister and Chief Minister – Nitish had not faced corruption allegations in public life.
Reflecting on his early political journey, Shah said he was among the leaders associated with the 1974 movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan. He added that Nitish Kumar had consistently tried to follow the ideals of the movement and said the NDA would welcome his experience in national politics once he takes his seat in the Rajya Sabha.
