"Lalu Yadav has no importance in Bihar, people are standing with NDA": BJP's Prem Kumar

Speaking to ANI, Kumar, asserted that the people want a double-engine government in Bihar.

"The public has rejected Lalu Yadav. Now Lalu Yadav has no importance in Bihar. The people of Bihar are standing with NDA... The people of Bihar want a double-engine government here so that Bihar can develop more rapidly," Kumar, the minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Bihar government, said.

Earlier on Thursday, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan exuded confidence in NDA forming government in Bihar in assembly polls later this year and said the ruling alliance will win over 225 seats. The Bihar assembly has 243 seats.

"NDA will not break. this is not going to happen. One thing is certain. The five constituent parties of Bihar will fight the upcoming Bihar assembly elections together. A strong NDA government is going to be formed in the Bihar assembly elections. We will form the government in Bihar by winning more than 225 seats," Chirag Paswan.

JD(U) Chief Nitish Kumar leads the NDA government in Bihar which also includes BJP, HAM, LJP (Ram Vilas) and RLSP.

On January 5, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar emphasized his government's commitment to women's empowerment through initiatives like the 'Jeevika Didi' scheme, asserting that his administration has worked for the welfare of all communities.

Speaking to the media, CM Nitish took a veiled dig at the opposition and said that he mistakenly gone with them but now he is with his old friends.

"What was the condition of women earlier? Since we started the 'Jeevika Didi' scheme - women are happy, and whenever they need help, they are given help...I had mistakenly gone with them (opposition), but now I am with my old friends. Did they (Opposition) do any work for women? We have worked for everyone - be it Hindus, Muslims, upper castes, backward, Dalits or women. People should remember this," he said. (ANI)