Siddaramaiah Accepts Bihar Mandate, Defends Nehru’s Legacy Amid NDA Surge

By A Staff Reporter

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday reacted to the early trends of the Bihar Assembly Election results, where the National Democratic Alliance surged past the majority mark. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said that the verdict of the people must be respected, regardless of political differences. “We have to accept the mandate of the people,” he said, noting that elections reflect the will of the electorate and democratic outcomes must be honoured.

While addressing questions on national politics, Siddaramaiah also offered a strong defence of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s contribution to independent India. He highlighted Nehru’s foundational role in shaping the country’s development trajectory. “He made a lot of sacrifices for the country. He started the five-year plan. Through this, he did the work of building the country,” he said. Siddaramaiah credited Nehru for the establishment of major dams, advancements in agriculture, and the broad vision behind India’s early industrialisation.

He further criticised the BJP’s repeated attacks on Nehru’s legacy. “Nehru is responsible for the growth of dams and agriculture. BJP did not fight for freedom. They are the ones who brought freedom to the country…” he said, underscoring that the freedom struggle was built on the efforts of leaders from the Congress and allied movements.