JD(U) banks on CM Nitish's work for minority welfare

The passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025 ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar and JD(U) backing it is being viewed as a strategic move not only on part of the BJP, but also the JD(U), which hitherto remained the secular face of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

- Arun Kumar

PATNA:

Though some leaders of the minority cell of JD(U) have quit in protest and RJD has tried to attack Nitish Kumar through posters showing him as 'RSS-backed CM', JD(U) leaders are not unduly worried and are confident that the Muslim community would assess Kumar on the basis of what he has done for them and not what the Opposition wants to make them believe to take them for a ride.

"This is not just a test for the political parties, but also for the minority people to assess for themselves who has done what for them over the years - be it the Congress, RJD or the NDA led by Nitish Kumar. The beneficiaries of Waqf were a few, but now its benefits will go down to poor Muslims in the true sense, which never happened all these years. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar has done a lot for them, but he has never done anything for politics. Many people often told him that he was not the first choice for Muslims, but he still delivered for them that none can match. The day there was call to boycotting his 'Iftaar party', which did not evoke much impact, it was clear that politics was on," said a senior JD(U) leader.