In an unexpected move, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday announced that he will not contest the upcoming state Assembly elections. Talking to media in Patna, Nitish said he will be focus on campaigning for the polls scheduled to be held in September/October.

"I will not contest assembly polls and would devote my time for campaigning. I will lead the election campaign," Nitish, who was declared the chief ministerial candidate by Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and National Congress Party (NCP) alliance, said.



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The Assembly election in Bihar is being seen as a direct fight between Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While the JD(U), RJD, Congress alliance has already announced Nitish as its CM candidate, the BJP has decided to bank upon its 'star campaigner' Prime Minister Narendra Modi to win the state. The party is yet to present a face for the CM's post, a decision many believe can hamper the BJP's chances.

The BJP has already sounded the poll bugle in the state with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a bigger package than Rs 50,000 crore, which he had promised earlier. Last month, PM Modi inaugurated a slew of projects in Patna.

Addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur later, the Prime Minister launched a brutal verbal assault on Nitish Kumar for breaking the JD(U)'s alliance with the BJP in 2013, and mocked the chief minister's new alliance with RJD president Lalu Prasad. He labelled the RJD as the "rozana jungle raj ka dar (everyday fears of the lawless days), and said attempts were being made to push back Bihar into the "jungle raj days" by Nitish and Lalu. "The people of Bihar should resolve that they would not let the jungle raj return and oust this state government in 100 days," he said.

Rabri Devi not to contest polls

Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi has also decided not to contest the Assembly polls.

"I will not contest the assembly polls" Rabri Devi, wife of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, told reporters in Patna. "However, my two sons - Tej Pratap and Tejasvi Yadav - will contest polls," she added.

Rabri Devi was the first woman chief minister of the state from 1997 to 2005.

