It Was A Mistake Committed Twice, Won't Repeat: Nitish Kumar On Alliance With RJD

After inaugurating an eye hospital with BJP leader JP Nadda at IGIMS campus, CM Nitish Kumar said that aligning with the RJD was a mistake committed twice and he won't repeat it. He said his relationship with the NDA dates back to 1995.

Patna: Ending speculations of switching parties, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asserted his loyalty to BJP and termed his decision to align with the Lalu Yadav-led RJD as a mistake he had committed twice.

While addressing a gathering in the presence of BJP national president JP Nadda, the JDU chief ruled out chances of a switch over. "What did the previous government do? I committed the mistake twice by aligning with them. Our (NDA) relationship has been an old one and we were together since 1995. In between, I made a mistake twice, I went here and there but this will not happen again," Kumar said.

Deliberating on the poor government services prior 2005, Kumar said that there was a shortage of doctors in government hospitals, medicines and other facilities. "Only a handful of 39 patients used to come to the primary health centres every month. After we came to power in 2006, free medicines were given in hospitals. Now, more than 11000 patients visit the primary health centres every month," the CM said.

He assured that the number of medical colleges will be increased from 11 to 15 very soon. Also, Nalanda Medical College, Darbhanga Medical College, Muzaffarpur Medical College, Bhagalpur Medical College and Gaya Medical College are being upgraded, he added.

Prior to this, Union health minister Nadda and Kumar inaugurated a new eye hospital at the IGIMS campus at a cost of Rs 188 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said that when he was the health minister in 2019, he had laid the last foundation stone here in the Ophthalmology Department in the presence of Kumar, who was a Chief Minister then. "After becoming a minister once again, I am privileged to inaugurate the hospital at IGIMS," he said.

Nadda is on a two-day visit to Bihar. Before coming to the inauguration, Nadda met Kumar at his residence in Patna and discussions were held for a long time.

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