Samrat Choudhary Supports Nitish Kumar as NDA's Chief Ministerial Candidate; Responds to Tejashwi Yadav
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Synopsis
In a strong rebuttal to Tejashwi Yadav's accusations on Ambedkar Jayanti about the BJP and NDA's stance on reservations, Bihar's Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary reaffirmed the NDA's commitment to social justice and endorsed Nitish Kumar as the coalition's face for the upcoming elections.
Key Takeaways
- Samrat Choudhary defends NDA's commitment to social justice.
- Launch of the ‘Dr. Ambedkar Samagra Seva Abhiyan’ to aid Dalit communities.
- Emphasis on verifying essential services for beneficiaries.
- Choudhary challenges Tejashwi Yadav's allegations regarding university constructions.
- Nitish Kumar remains the NDA's candidate for CM in the elections.
Patna, April 14 (NationPress) Following Tejashwi Yadav's intense comments on Ambedkar Jayanti, where he accused the BJP and NDA of being anti-reservation and anti-Ambedkar, Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary responded vigorously, defending the NDA’s dedication to social justice and endorsing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the representative of the alliance for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
During the formal inauguration of the ‘Dr. Ambedkar Samagra Seva Abhiyan’—a campaign focused on delivering government schemes to Dalit and marginalized communities—Deputy CM Choudhary highlighted that “this initiative is a step towards realizing Babasaheb Ambedkar's vision of inclusive development.”
As part of the Abhiyan, officials will conduct on-site verification to ensure that essential services such as gas connections from the Ujjwala Yojana, health coverage from Ayushman Bharat, and basic infrastructure like roads and drains in Dalit villages have reached the targeted recipients.
“Any identified shortcomings will be addressed promptly,” asserted the Deputy CM.
In response to Tejashwi Yadav’s earlier allegations, Choudhary launched a pointed personal critique, asserting: “Your parents (Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi) exploited Bihar. You claim to promote university development, yet under your administration, only 2 out of 10 sanctioned universities were constructed. Nitish Kumar has successfully established 23 universities.”
Tejashwi Yadav previously stated that the BJP is anti-reservation, emphasizing that the Grand Alliance implemented 65 percent reservation while the BJP-led administration failed to incorporate it into the 9th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
He further mentioned that every member of the NDA aspires to be the Chief Minister of Bihar.
Addressing the speculation following Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini’s suggestion of Samrat Choudhary as Bihar’s potential CM, the Deputy CM clarified: “The NDA is cohesive and will participate in the Assembly elections under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar. He is and will continue to be the face of the NDA in Bihar.”
Choudhary commended Nitish Kumar's developmental initiatives, including village electrification, road connectivity, and ongoing efforts to generate employment.
“If the populace grants us an additional five years, we will create opportunities that will encourage those who left Bihar in search of employment to return,” he noted.
Earlier on Monday, Union MSME Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi also downplayed speculation regarding the CM’s identity and stressed the importance of democratic processes.
“This is a democracy. Baba Saheb Ambedkar has afforded us the right to vote. It is inappropriate to discuss the CM face prior to elections. The decision will be made by the elected MLAs after the 2025 Assembly elections,” Manjhi remarked in Patna.
