Criticising Demonetisation Hurt Congress And Samajwadi Party In Uttar Pradesh, Says Nitish Kumar

He reasoned that there was no need for the opposition to be critical of demonetisation in the run-up to the elections as the poor felt contented with the fact that the move had hurt the rich

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 13 March 2017 2:07 pm

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar congratulated the BJP on its show at the recent assembly elections in five states, and said that the opposition ignored the fact that demonetisation gave satisfaction to the poor.

The Bihar chief minister had been mum on demonetisation for a long time after coming out in its support when the move happened on November 8. He then flipped and criticised the central government in February this year.

Kumar put out the following tweet on his handle:

पांच राज्यों में हुए चुनाव में विजयी पार्टियों को बधाई https://t.co/QfCmBs95Sr
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) March 11, 2017

He also congratulated the Congress for its show in the polls, tweeting: "Congratulate Congress for victory in Punjab. Also appreciate that Congress turned out to be largest party in Manipur & Goa elections".

In the note he posted on Twitter, Kumar also hinted at why he thought the Congress-SP alliance failed in Uttar Pradesh unlike the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. He reasoned that there was no need for the opposition to be critical of demonetisation in the run-up to the elections as the poor felt contented with the fact that the move had hurt the rich.

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav also congratulated the BJP for its show in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, telling news agency ANI that "I welcome the decision of the people. I also congratulate the BJP for its victory in Uttar Pradesh". Yadav also congratulated the Congress and Amarinder Singh on their victory in Punjab.