Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Mar 12: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi launched a fierce verbal attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, accusing him of disrespecting women and claiming that he arrives at the Legislative Council under the influence of bhang. Her comments came after she and fellow RJD members staged a walkout from the Bihar Legislative Council following a heated exchange with the Chief Minister.
The confrontation was sparked by a disagreement over governance and women's rights in the state. Rabri Devi criticized the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD(U)) for claiming that "nothing happened in Bihar before 2005." In response, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reminded her that during her tenure as Chief Minister, he, as a Union Minister, had witnessed firsthand how little progress had been made in the state.
Nitish defended his government's achievements, highlighting the 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies and the improvements made in the education sector for girls in Bihar.
Following this verbal clash, Rabri Devi and other RJD members walked out of the Council. Speaking to the media afterward, she alleged that Chief Minister Nitish had insulted her multiple times and was being influenced by a group of people, including Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, Vijay Chaudhary, and Ashok Chaudhary, who "whispered in his ears and manipulated him."
Rabri Devi's accusations against Nitish Kumar are part of the ongoing political tension in Bihar, particularly as the state gears up for the 2025 state Assembly elections.
The criticism against the Chief Minister has been echoed by other members of the RJD. On Tuesday, Lalu Prasad's daughter, Rohini Acharya, slammed the Nitish government, accusing it of being ineffective and claiming that Nitish Kumar had become synonymous with incompetence.
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly and Rabri Devi’s son, also recently criticized the Chief Minister, stating that Nitish was unfit to govern the state.
As political tensions rise, the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar are shaping up to be a significant contest, with both the RJD and JD(U) preparing for a fierce battle.