As Bihar prepares for the crucial second phase of Assembly elections, JD(U) national general secretary Manish Verma has firmly established Nitish Kumar as the NDA's chief ministerial face, dismissing any speculation about alternative leadership.
Clear Endorsement for Nitish Kumar's Leadership
Former bureaucrat and JD(U) leader Manish Verma, speaking exclusively to The Indian Express, emphasized that Nitish Kumar remains the undisputed face of the NDA alliance in Bihar. Despite some initial delay in official confirmation, Verma stated that top NDA leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have consistently maintained that the elections are being contested under Kumar's leadership.
Verma, who has traveled across approximately 70 of the 101 seats contested by JD(U), revealed that ground reports indicate strong public trust in Kumar's 19-year tenure as chief minister. "There is a sense of deep trust in his leadership and a general feeling that 'with Nitish in command, everything will be fine'," Verma noted during the interview conducted on November 11, 2025.
Women Voters Signal Pro-Incumbency Wave
The significant surge in women voter turnout during the first phase of polling has emerged as a crucial indicator of public sentiment. Verma described this development as "a sign of heavy pro-incumbency" and a clear endorsement of Kumar's pro-women and pro-poor policies.
He highlighted several government initiatives that have contributed to this response, including:
- 50% reservation for women in panchayats
- Bicycle schemes for schoolgirls
- Creation of 1.4 crore women through Jeevika scheme
- Financial support for women entrepreneurs
Verma defended recent government announcements, stating that Rs 10,000 provided to 1.21 crore prospective women entrepreneurs was part of established welfare policies rather than election-oriented doles.
Contrasting Governance Approaches
The JD(U) leader drew sharp contrasts between the NDA's approach and the opposition Mahagathbandhan's promises. He criticized Tejashwi Yadav's pledge of one government job per family as unrealistic and lacking proper planning.
"His 10 lakh jobs promise in 2020 was plausible, and we proved over the last three-four years that it is doable. What he is telling people now shows his lack of planning," Verma asserted, emphasizing that the NDA's employment generation plans are backed by concrete industrial policies.
Addressing the 'jungle raj' narrative, Verma characterized the election as a choice between two distinct legacies: the 15-year Lalu-Rabri rule versus Nitish Kumar's 20-year governance record.
Dismissing Alternative Narratives
Verma firmly rejected suggestions of internal party differences regarding leadership, stating that allies including Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) have consistently endorsed Kumar as the CM candidate.
"Who else is the alternative? A part of the media is peddling the narrative that Nitish would be replaced if the NDA comes back to power. It is all bunkum. Nitish will be the CM again," he declared emphatically.
The JD(U) leader also dismissed Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor's influence, describing him as a "social media creation" with negligible impact on the electoral outcome. Verma emphasized that media management and actual people management represent entirely different domains in political campaigning.
As Bihar voters prepare to cast their ballots in the final phase, the JD(U)'s unequivocal support for Nitish Kumar's leadership sets the stage for a decisive contest between the NDA's development agenda and the opposition's welfare promises.
