Q: What would be the main issue of these elections? Will the people again vote for a change of guard?

A: Indubitably, they want a change. They have been a victim of unbridled corruption and a highly oppressive bureaucracy. They have seen the double speak of Nitish and his steam rolling of public sentiments and interests.

Q: Has Bihar not witnessed development under Nitish Regime? Will the voters not vote in favour of development?

A: Well, Bihar has developed in the past years but Nitish is not to be credited with this. All this has been centre sponsored and conversely Nitish government has not utilized the funds allocated to the fullest, only 68% was used. Nitish had promised to return to the youth of Bihar their lost self respect by mitigating the problem of migration but the dismal performance on the unemployment front has put paid to all the hopes of the young people of Bihar.

Q: In the last elections the Muslims seemed to be a little inclined towards Nitish and that put him in power. How will the Muslims behave this time?

A: Nitish was not able to give the pride of place to Muslims inhis party nor was he able to give them any tangible share in the power structure of the government. Either rhe expelled or created such situations in which the Muslim members of his party had to quit. He tried to project himself as a secular leader, the Modi controversy being the case in point. But he did not implement his own 10 point program for the uplift of the Muslims. He even put the centre sponsored schemes for Muslim welfare on the back burner. He harmed Urdu, the second official language of the state and the Urdu Directorate has become defunct.