Nitish Kumar skips namaz at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan for first time in 20 years

For the first time in 20 years of his tenure as Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar did not turn up at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan where a large number of people gathered to offer namaz on the occasion of Id.

Mr. Kumar has never given a miss to the mass prayers where more than 20,000 people gather at the ground every year for the festival. The move is being correlated with the changing political scenario in Bihar and Mr. Kumar making an exit from State politics after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Son in the limelight

He deputed his son Nishant Kumar, who joined the Janata Dal (United) recently, to visit the place and interact with the people celebrating the festival.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Nitish Kumar posted a message on social media platform X in which he congratulated the Muslim community. “Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the people of the State and the country, and especially to our Muslim brothers and sisters, on the occasion of Eid. May God shower his blessings upon us on this auspicious day, and may happiness, peace, and prosperity prevail in the State,” the Chief Minister said in the post.

Sources in the party said that it was a political move to put his son in the limelight to mingle with the Muslim community who had gathered in large numbers at the ground.

Since he formed the government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leaving the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress in 2022, several Muslim leaders had expressed their disenchantment with Mr. Kumar. When the Janata Dal (United) supported the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is now an Act, several Muslim leaders of the party had resigned in protest.

‘Regaining lost trust’

“It is a well-thought-out strategy to regain the lost trust among the Muslims. He put his son in front who will be leading the party in the days to come after Nitish ji will shift to Delhi. He also gave an opportunity to his son so that the tradition he has been following for two decades must continue,” said a senior JD(U) leader.

Except Gandhi Maidan, Mr. Nitish Kumar visited major mosques and dargahs on the occasion like the Khanqah-e-Mujibiya in Phulwari Sharif, where he met spiritual head Hazrat Syed Shah Ayatullah Qadri, sought his blessings, and also extended his greetings for Id.

Thereafter, he went to the Khanqah-e-Munemia, located at Mittan Ghat in Patna city, followed by Khanqah Bargah-e-Ishq at Takia Sharif, Mittan Ghat.

Mr. Nishant Kumar, who carried forward his father’s tradition by attending the mass prayers in Gandhi Maidan, received a warm welcome at the ground while being accompanied by Minister Ashok Choudhary. “I extend heartiest Id greetings to the people of Bihar and the country on behalf of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,” he told journalists covering the event.

Security personnel who normally escort the Chief Minister were seen deployed around him at the ground. After the event, he drove straight to the residence of JD(U) leader and Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh where he held a closed-door meeting with him.