It was a poor peasant who had instigated a youthful Nitish Kumar in late 80s to look beyond Bihar and the Assembly. The farm labourer working in a field at Harnaut in Nalanda district stopped Nitish to say that he need not worry about his Assembly constituency and better see beyond it. This nudging forced Nitish, then an MlA, to think expanding his political grounds.
This was revealed by CM Nitish Kumar, who completed 30 years of his legislative career this month, on Tuesday. He said after losing two Assembly polls in a row he was quite disheartened and after winning in 1985 spent a good time concentrating on solving the issues of the constituency people. It was in course of this exercise that a farmer advised him to make a big leap.
Speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), Nitish said, "I completed 30 years of legislative career but still feel that I have just started." He said, "I lost in 1977 when most of my colleagues won and registered victory in 1985 when majority of them had lost." He said his most memorable and satisfactory time was during 10th lok Sabha when he sat on Opposition benches and got opportunity to learn a lot. He made a debut in ninth lok Sabha and was made a Minister of State by VP Singh.
In his hour-long speech, Nitish said he was famous for his one-liners in the 10th lok Sabha and those were highly appreciated by all. "Even today sometimes I feel blurting out one-liners but I have to control myself for now I am in power and heading a Government. I apprehend that my one-liners might be given different meaning and colour," he said.
Nitish who was first elected to lok Sabha in 1990 was a greenhorn in politics but trounced an established and prominent Congressman Ram lakhan Singh Yadav, also called 'Sher-e-Bihar' from Barh constituency. He said he loved two of his speeches in the lok Sabha, first after the demolition of Babri Masjid which, he said was liked by the members of all parties except one which had its role in Ayodhya tragedy, and another time when he spoke on the confidence motion brought by then PM Deve Gowda.
"After losing Assembly election twice I announced at a public meeting not to contest election any more. Many among the audience cried and urged me to reconsider my decision," said Nitish. Ironically, he has not contested an election after winning lok Sabha polls in 2004. Since he became Chief Minister he is member of legislative Council and currently it is his second term in the Upper House.
Expressing concern over the social discord and hatred against other religious communities besides attacks on places of worship, the CM said it was the State's responsibility to provide security and take action against the miscreants. "It is needed to study why such things are happening what are the factors that instigating or inspiring people to resort to such activities," he said and in an indirect attack on Narendra Modi-led Government added, "One should realise that running a country is more difficult job than running a Government. For running the country and keeping it intact one should have broad vision and make environment free from social tension and discord.
ADRI member-secretary Shaibal Gupta who called Nitish a subaltern Nehru said, "His 30th year as legislator may well turn out to be the moment of his toughest test but those familiar with Nitish would know he is looking forward to the battle. It is neither his first nor the last." JD(U) MP Pawan K Varma said Nitish is a thinking politician who had brought politics to vision. A citation was presented to the CM on this occasion read, "The sterling career of Nitish Kumar almost never began, but once it did, it charted a glowing and uninterrupted course."