Nitish's welfare blitzkrieg aims at bolstering image, silencing Oppn

In poll-bound Bihar, the NDA government at the Centre and state are on a project inauguration spree.

- Vijay Swaroop

PATNA: This serves the twin purpose of justifying its development-oriented image and also silencing the opposition who are alleging that CM Nitish Kumar was in an "unconscious state", given his health conditions.

The JD(U)-BJP alliance is contesting the state elections on the development plank, citing the number of projects launched both by the state and the Union government. For the BJP, the election slogan is in sync with the Centre's policy statement of self-reliance as the party is pitching for 'Atma Nirbhar Bihar'.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since February, had inaugurated schemes/projects worth ₹67,900 crore, chief minister Nitish Kumar since his Pragati Yatra ended in February this year, gave wings to about 430 development projects worth ₹50,000 crores. If that was not enough, the Kumar-led NDA government has made one announcement after another in a bid to appease/target different sections of voters.