JD(U) has been in power for two decades since 24 November 2005. While you take credit for curbing lawlessness and invoking the alleged "Jungle Raj" of your predecessors, Bihar remains economically weak. The recent caste survey showed 34.13% of 2.97 crore households earn ₹6,000 or less per month. How do you plan to address this discontent?

What was the base point from which Nitish Kumar started? On law and order, social sector, education, roads, power -- the State was trailing. He has won four consecutive elections and will win hands down again. He changed Bihar's face -- travel the state and you'll see excellent roads, no Jungle Raj. Women were empowered through schemes such as Jeevika which created self-help groups for women. Despite the pandemic, Bihar registered double-digit GDP growth and higher per capita income. Yes, more investment and industry are needed, but things are changing and investments are coming. Fixing basic problems alone took seven to eight years.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is dominating the headlines. While the Opposition says this is a form of vote chori [theft], the Election Commission [EC] says it is to clean up the rolls. What's your take?

We support SIR. It isn't new; it happened in 2003. While electoral rolls are being revised in Bihar, protests are in Delhi. Have you seen voters in Bihar protesting about missing names? The opposition has no ground support. They speak of "vote-chori" but never of the situation when Congress or Lalu ji ruled. Bihar's poor began voting only after Electronic Voting Machines were introduced. Before EVMs, booths were looted and elections fixed -- this is documented.

The last time JD(U) was the single largest party was 2010. In 2020 it slipped to 43 seats, third place. What's your plan to arrest the decline?

You can't compare 2020 with 2025. In the last polls, a party that left NDA contested against us and was covertly supported by a section of BJP, drawing candidates largely from BJP and creating confusion. It was also the first election after COVID. Having travelled across the state, I believe Nitish Kumar is at his peak. Even after nearly 20 years, there is pro-incumbency. We have had a true double-engine government only in the last five years, which helped. The 2024-25 budget brought central support in many sectors. Over 20 years we have laid the foundation for a better Bihar, slowed migration, and now work to reverse it. Investments are flowing; we have acquired land for industries in 30 districts. This election will shape Bihar for the next 25 years, not just five.

But how do you arrest your party's downslide?

Look at the 2024 elections in Bihar -- we contested 16 seats, BJP 17, and both won 12 each. As I said, 2020 was different. In the coming polls NDA as a whole, and JD(U) in particular, will do very well. We can't repeat the 2010 tally because we contested 141 seats then. Today we contest as part of an alliance.

Your party has always talked about sushasan [good governance] under Nitish Kumar is known JD(U) has mostly fought in alliance -- either with BJP or the mahagathbandhan of RJD and Congress. Why not on your own?

In my personal view, we could have contested the 2015 polls alone. But Nitish ji has been in alliance with BJP since 1996. It is coalition dharma to stay with them.

Nitish Kumar managed to create a constituency of women voters through some pro-women policies like ban on sale of liquor. But there are allegations that this has led to a proliferation of liquor mafia.

No law can be perfect. We have open border with Nepal that sometimes makes it difficult to stop illicit liquor. But one must note that prohibition has had a positive impact on the lives of several people in the rural areas, particularly women. In fact, Nitish ji decided to impose prohibition based on the feedback he got from women voters, who often complained that the men in their family were spending all their earnings on liqour. In fact, I believe that any government succeeding ours too will not be able to reverse this policy.

JD(U) put up posters -- "25 Se 30, Phir Se Nitish". Does this reflect anxiety that even if you win, Nitish may not be CM or complete his term?

In 2020, when we got 43 seats and BJP 71, Nitish ji told Prime Minister Modi BJP could take the CM's seat and JD(U) would join the government. But BJP said the elections were fought on Nitish ji's face and he alone should be CM. There's no anxiety. It's a settled issue -- Nitish Kumar is the face of the alliance and will be Chief Minister.

But there's precedent in Maharashtra of Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde being replaced.

I already told you about Bihar. Nitish ji offered BJP the CM's chair and assured our participation in government. They took time and then told us: we went into the election projecting Nitish ji as CM and we'll continue with him.

There's speculation about Nitish Kumar's health. Don't voters have the right to know if he's fit to lead?

Nitish ji campaigned extensively in 2024. He travels daily across Bihar, carries out yatras, meets people, attends the Assembly and manages his work as CM. The opposition is unnecessarily making this an issue. NDA allies and Bihar's voters have no doubt about his fitness. He's perfectly fine.

What about seat-sharing talks? Have you arrived at a formula?

I don't think there'll be a problem. Did you hear any murmur during the 2024 polls? Seat division was done amicably then and will be settled before October amicably again.

Is Nishant, the Chief Minister's son his political heir?

He's very intelligent. The reason he's not in the public eye is because Nitish ji is one of the few socialist leaders not to promote family members. A section of the party feels he should join politics. Whether he does is his call.

How will Prashant Kishor impact the election? There's speculation he'll cut into NDA's vote share.

It's just empty chatter from Delhi. Bihar will see a bipolar election. Those who vote will either back us or the opposition. Our support base is intact.

It is a settled issue, Nitish Kumar is NDA's CM Face: JD(U) leader Sanjay K. Jha