The Rupauli assembly seat in Bihar's Purnia district is witnessing a riveting by-election. Voting is scheduled for July 10, with the campaign period having come to an end. The campaign trail saw Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav exchange barbed words. Kumar singled out RJD candidate Bima Bharti, saying they had taught her so much, only for her to turn her back and leave. Bharti countered by insisting that her political standing was crafted by the people, not by Kumar. Tejashwi Yadav accused Kumar's party, JD(U), of demeaning a woman.
During the intense campaign, Nitish Kumar took a direct hit at RJD candidate Bima Bharti. He remarked, 'We gave Bima Bharti respect, made her a three-time legislator, even a minister in the state government, but still, she left. He mocked her failure to win a parliamentary seat, noting her third-place finish in the general election. Kumar added that Bharti lacked communication skills and despite being given respect, she chose to leave. He also insinuated that those who leave him are inclined to make trouble.
Nitish Humiliated Me - Bharti
Bharti responded robustly to CM Nitish Kumar's comments, stating that he came to Rupauli and humiliated her publicly. She accused Kumar of taunting her at electoral rallies and said his actions were an affront to a daughter from a highly underprivileged community. She stated that it wasn't Kumar but the people of Rupauli who elevated her from household chores to the legislature and gave her the chance to speak out.
Tejashwi's Take on Nitish's Statement
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav also launched a counterattack on Nitish Kumar’s remarks. The RJD leader claimed that during Bharti's tenure in JD(U), she faced persistent harassment. Overwhelmed by the treatment she received when fighting for her rights, Bharti eventually left JD(U) and joined RJD. Tejashwi expressed confidence that the public, whom he reveres as divine, is watching everything and will ultimately render justice.
Bima Bharti: Former JD(U) Legislator
In the 2020 Bihar election, Bima Bharti was elected to the Rupauli seat as a JD(U) assembly member. It had been rumored that Bharti was in talks with RJD after Nitish Kumar severed ties with the Mahagathbandhan and rejoined the NDA. Bharti had also abstained from voting on the confidence motion. Just before the parliamentary elections, Bharti resigned from her assembly membership and embraced RJD, who then nominated her as their candidate for the Purnia parliamentary seat, but she did not succeed in the election.
