Ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar, Union Minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh said that Bharat Ratna should be conferred upon Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former CM of Odisha Naveen Patnaik.
The demand for the highest civilian honour for the Bihar CM came from the BJP leader in Begusarai, his Lok Sabha constituency.
Giriraj Singh is perceived as a detractor of CM Nitish Kumar and has given statements against the JD(U) chief in the past. Meanwhile, Naveen Patnaik has been a former alliance partner of the BJP and was ousted by the saffron party from power earlier this year.
"Bihar was known for decrepit roads, schools and buildings until the ascent to power of Nitish Kumar, who took the state to new heights. Likewise, Naveen Patnaik served Odisha for so many years. Leaders like them deserve the highest honour, like Bharat Ratna," Giriraj Singh said.
Singh also asserted that mischief of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad notwithstanding, the NDA was looking forward to contesting the upcoming assembly polls under the JD(U) supremo's leadership.
Notably, the averment comes in the backdrop of attempts by the RJD, which has aligned with the JD(U) twice, to fish in the NDA's troubled waters.
JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh has also said that the NDA alliance in Bihar will contest the assembly elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.
Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday had alleged, "The BJP has assumed control of the chief minister's office. Four close aides of Kumar, of whom two are in Delhi, are in touch with the BJP leadership. Amit Shah is clearly at work."
The RJD leader made the remark in the backdrop of Amit Shah's reluctance to affirm at an event hosted by a private news channel, that Kumar will be the NDA's face for assembly polls in Bihar. However, shortly after Shah's statements, BJP leaders affirmed that the Bihar assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.
The assembly elections for the 243 seats in Bihar are likely to be held in the end of 2025.