Early Lok Sabha Election Can't Be Ruled Out: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said that the possibility of an early Lok Sabha election could not be ruled out.

His remarks come as he works towards forging opposition unity ahead of the election.

The Chief Minister launched 5,061 projects, totalling Rs 6,680.67 crore, of the rural works department at his residence. Among those present were his deputy Tejashwi Yadav and other officials.

Addressing engineers and other department officials via video conferencing, Kumar urged them to complete pending projects before January 2024.

"I have been told pending works will be complete by January 2024. I would say, try completing these before that. You never know when elections may be announced," he said.

"Elections may not necessarily take place next year. These could be held earlier," he said.

The JD(U) leader's efforts to unite the opposition seem to have paid off, with leaders opposed to the BJP planning a visit to Patna next week to discuss a common strategy.

In an indirect reference to the Narendra Modi-led government, Kumar pointed out that in 2015, the Centre reduced its share in expenses incurred under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana from 100 per cent to 60 per cent, leaving the remaining 40 per cent to be borne by the states.

Kumar, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, reminisced about his earlier tenure as a cabinet minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and highlighted that the rural roads scheme was initially launched by the Centre, which bore the entire cost of the programme at the time.

He further added that the commendable work done by Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government is often overlooked today, indicating a lack of recognition from the current regime at the Centre.

"Hopefully the good work done by us will not be forgotten," he said.