Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP, alleging that the saffron party intends to use Nitish only until the assembly elections and then replace him with its own chief minister.

Speaking during the Matdata Adhikar Yatra, Kanhaiya said the BJP knows that the people of Bihar are not ready to give it power directly, so it is attempting to govern from behind the scenes. “The Election Commission may claim neutrality, but it must demonstrate true impartiality,” he added.

Kanhaiya reminded voters that “vote means people’s rule,” warning that if the right to vote is undermined, democracy will turn into dictatorship. He also dismissed earlier fears among alliance partners that a stronger Congress would hurt them, saying the party has a history of running coalition governments successfully.