Patna: Union minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday asserted that JD(U) president Nitish Kumar will “return as chief minister of Bihar” upon the victory of the BJP-led NDA in assembly polls due later this year.

Talking to reporters here, Paswan said he would “welcome” the entry into politics of Kumar’s son Nishant and slammed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for claiming that a conspiracy was being hatched to prevent it. “I would welcome it if Nishant chooses to enter politics. But it has to be his personal decision. As far as Tejashwi Yadav is concerned, he should realise that as the leader of opposition in the assembly, he ought to speak responsibly,” said Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

“If Tejashwi Yadav is so sure of a conspiracy against the chief minister’s son, he should meet Nitish Kumar and share whatever information he is privy to, instead of making rash comments in public,” he added. The Hajipur MP also extended birthday greetings to Kumar, who has turned 74, and said, “The NDA is looking forward to fighting and winning the polls under his leadership. After the elections, he will return as the chief minister.”

The averment from Paswan, a former bete noire of the JD(U) supremo, comes in the backdrop of speculations that the BJP, which is fed up with playing second fiddle to Kumar, could pull the rug from under the feet of Kumar, who might retaliate by dumping the NDA again and lending his heft to the opposition camp.

Paswan was also asked about Yadav likening 20 years old NDA rule in Bihar to a “rickety old car in need of replacement” and the RJD’s allegation that some of the recently inducted ministers in the state had a criminal past.

He said, “They should remember that if they point one finger at others, there would be three aimed at themselves. If they start talking about the last 20 years, people will be compelled to recall their 15 years’ rule in Bihar when the state had become notorious for lawlessness. And they must never complain about criminal records. Have they not been summoned recently?”

The allusion was to the recent direction issued to Yadav’s father and RJD president Lalu Prasad, besides elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav and sister Hema by a Delhi court which has asked them to appear in connection with the land for jobs scam.

Paswan also claimed that things are not going to be smooth between the RJD and its old ally Congress, which has until now been capitulating before the regional party. “Hints have been thrown by the Congress’ recently appointed in charge for Bihar,” he said. The Congress in charge for Bihar Krishna Allavaru has toured the state twice in the last couple of weeks and vowed to rebuild the organisation and eradicate factionalism.