JD(U) Rejects NDA Ally’s Proposal to Rename Nitish Kumar’s Birthplace After Him

JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday appeared to distance the party from an alliance partner’s proposal to rename Bakhtiyarpur, the birthplace of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after the JD(U) leader.

The proposal was made by Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) national president and Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman, who suggested that Bakhtiyarpur be renamed “Nitishpur” in recognition of Kumar’s contribution to Bihar.

Asked about the proposal, Jha thanked Suman for expressing his sentiments but made it clear that Nitish Kumar has never favoured renaming places.

“My party and I thank him (Suman) for expressing such a sentiment. But Nitish Kumar has always let his work speak on his behalf. He has never believed in renaming places,” Jha said.

Jha, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, further argued that changing the town’s name would not alter its historical association with Bakhtiyar Khilji, who invaded the region and is associated with the destruction of the ancient Nalanda centre of learning.

“Merely changing the name of the place will not erase from history the fact that Bakhtiyar Khilji had invaded the land and set Nalanda, the ancient seat of learning, on fire,” Jha said.

At the same time, Jha highlighted Nitish Kumar’s contribution to the revival of Nalanda, referring to the establishment of the modern Nalanda University. He recalled former CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury’s observation in Parliament about the coincidence of a son of Bakhtiyarpur helping restore Nalanda’s glory centuries after its destruction.

Suman had proposed the name change in a post on X on Wednesday. He said Kumar’s life, political struggles and memories were deeply connected with Bakhtiyarpur and argued that naming the town after him would honour his contribution to Bihar’s development, governance and social transformation.

Nitish Kumar, 75, is the JD(U)’s national president and a Rajya Sabha member. He was Bihar’s longest-serving chief minister before stepping down from the post in April after being elected to the Upper House.

The proposal was also ridiculed by the RJD, Bihar’s main opposition party and a political rival of Nitish Kumar.

RJD MLA Bhai Virendra called the suggestion “preposterous” and sarcastically said that, if such proposals continued, BJP allies might next suggest renaming the country after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.