Patna: Bihar Chief Minister of two terms Nitish Kumar wanted to quit politics and start a business after two successive defeats in the assembly elections of 1977 and 1980, according to a new book on socialist leader.
Kumar was defeated by Congress nominee Bhola Singh in 1977 and 1980 from Harnaut seat. He had then told his close friend Munna Sarkar, "Aese kaise hoga, lagta hai koi business karna hoga (This will not do, it seems I have to take up some business now)," says the book written by journalist Santosh Singh.
"Nitish's family had been getting impatient with his failures. The choice of taking up a job on the basis of his engineering degree was still there."
"Nitishji asked his wife Manju, who was a teacher at a government high school at her paternal village of Seodah, to give him one last chance with politics during the 1985 elections," the book titled "Ruled or Misruled" says.
Facing a strong opponent in Bhola Singh who enjoyed big clout, Kumar's friends mobilised donation for him to contest the 1985 poll.
"While Nitish had been fighting his political battle, we had decided to take any measure to counter his opponent this time to ensure his win. Manju (Nitish Kumar's wife) gave Rs 20,000 from her accumulated savings," the book quoting his friend Narendra says.
Finally, Nitish won the 1985 elections, reveals the book as it trails Kumar's political background.
The 339-page book mentions many interesting tales about Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Sushil Kumar Modi - all products of the 1974 movement launched by Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan.
Nitish, after defeating Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal in 2005, became the CM of Bihar for the first time. He had partnered with BJP in the election to take on Lalu.
Five years later, he led his party to second consecutive win.
Nitish Kumar, hoping to seal third term as Bihar CM, is holding his breath as the counting for Bihar polls is slated for tomorrow.
(With inputs from PTI)
