Just two days before the crucial counting of votes for the Bihar assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar embarked on a significant multi-faith pilgrimage across the state capital, Patna. The CM, accompanied by key ministers, visited prominent religious sites on Wednesday, seeking divine blessings for a favorable outcome focused on Bihar's progress and peace.
A Pilgrimage for Peace and Prosperity
The Chief Minister's spiritual journey commenced at the famous Mahavir Mandir near Patna Junction, a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Here, Nitish Kumar sought blessings from the presiding deity. He was accompanied by the state's Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, and Rural Works Minister, Ashok Choudhary.
From the temple, the CM's convoy proceeded to the Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib Gurdwara, one of the five sacred takhts of the Sikhs. This gurdwara holds immense historical significance as it is the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. At the shrine, the Chief Minister bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib in a mark of reverence.
The final stop on this interfaith tour was a famous mazar (shrine) located near the Patna High Court. The Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues offered a chadar at the mazar, completing his visits to places of worship representing different religions in the city.
Gratitude for a Peaceful Electoral Process
According to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, the purpose of these visits was to express gratitude. The Chief Minister sought blessings as the second and final phase of voting in Bihar was completed peacefully on Tuesday.
"The chief minister visited the places of worship of different religions to express gratitude that both phases of elections remained peaceful and undisputed," Choudhary stated. He further added that "The CM prayed for election results to be in favour of Bihar's development and peace."
Minister Choudhary also highlighted the enthusiastic participation of voters. "Most importantly, voting figures show that this time people from all sections, including women, have participated enthusiastically in voting. This is indicative of the rising level of awareness among the people of Bihar," he remarked.
Confidence Amidst Exit Poll Predictions
The parliamentary affairs minister also addressed the opposition's initial allegations, stating that their "false and baseless allegations" about SIR and vote theft were deflated with the publication of the new electors' list, leading to their smooth participation in the process.
This spiritual outreach comes on the heels of the Chief Minister's visit to the JD(U)'s "war room" on Tuesday. Defying rumors about his health, Nitish Kumar assessed the progress of the final election phase. With most exit polls predicting the return of the NDA to power and an increase in the number of JD(U) MLAs, the Chief Minister was reportedly optimistic about his party's performance, expecting it to surpass expectations despite the setback in the 2020 assembly elections.
