Bihar elections 2020: Nitish Kumar clarifies ‘aakhiri chunaav’ remark, says he was misunderstood

Bihar elections 2020: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday sought to clarify his recent "aakhiri chunaav" (last poll) remark which had triggered intense speculation. The Janata Dal United leader claimed that it was an utterance made by him whenever he wrapped up an election campaign, but it was "misunderstood" this time. The statement came after NDA’s win in Bihar elections even as JD(U) was restricted to 43 seats against ally BJP’s 71. 

"You guys did not get it right. I say the same thing at the last rally in every election ant bhala to sab bhala (all is well that ends well)," said Kumar when asked about his closing remarks at an election meeting he addressed in Purnea district last week, shortly before campaigning for the final phase of polls came to an end. 

"Listen to what I said before and after it and you will understand the context. Had you done so, you would not have misunderstood it," said Kumar whose words "ye mera aakhiri chunaav hai" (this is my last election) was interpreted by the opposition as an admission of impending defeat and a ploy to strike a chord with an angry electorate. 

The 69-year-old chief minister, who has been in power since 2005, appeared unhappy over projections of a strong anti-incumbency during the elections and predictions of a rout of the ruling dispensation. 

"I have been selflessly serving people. Still, some people succeeded in creating some confusion. You must have noted the anxieties triggered in public mind following the projections of the exit polls," Kumar said. 

NDA’s win came against most predictions that suggested a comfortable win for the RJD-led Grand Alliance which had led to fears, among those not sympathetic to Lalu Prasad's party, that its return to power could lead to lawlessness.