After facing a boycott by the Muslim groups for supporting the central government’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was targeted in a poster put up outside the residence of RJD leader and Bihar’s former chief minister, Rabri Devi. According to a video posted by news agency ANI on X, the poster reportedly posted by RJD leader Sanju Kohli accused Kumar of betraying the Muslim community on multiple issues, including the Waqf Bill and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The poster using lyrics of a Bollywood movie labelled Kumar a “dhokebaaz” who takes the voters of Muslim but fails to support their interests.
Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) is a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The NDA governs in Bihar as well as in the Centre.
The support of Kumar is important for the saffron party, as the latter lost its parliamentary majority in the Lok Sabha polls last year. The poster comes two days after the same leader targeted Kumar outside the residence of Rabri Devi for not standing at attention while the national anthem was going. The video went viral, and the Bihar CM could be seen talking and making gestures while the anthem was being played at an event in the state capital, Patna.
The assembly election is scheduled to be held in Bihar later this year. The final date, however, will be announced by the Election Commission. The poll battle will be a straight contest between the NDA and the RJD-led alliance known as Mahagathbandhan.