NEW DELHI: The stage in Purnea turned into something of a classroom moment on Monday when Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, went beyond pleasantries and started instructing the audience, quite literally, to stand up and applaud.“I once again congratulate and thank him. He is doing so much for the entire country and also for Bihar,” Nitish said earnestly, before abruptly shifting gears. With the firmness of a headmaster spotting sleepy students at the back, he commanded, “Zara khada ho kar ke inko ek baar pranaam kariye. Khada hoke pranaam kariye (Stand up and pay your respects to him once.)” When some people in the audience didn’t quite spring up in unison, Nitish doubled down, “Khaahe baithe hue ho? Ae, khada ho! Waha baithe hue ho, khada ho. Khada hoke bolo. (Why are you sitting? You there, stand up! Over there also, get up. Stand up and say it!)” The moment sparked laughter and surprise in equal measure as Nitish’s instructions echoed across the venue.PM Modi and the dignitaries sharing the stage looked amused by the spectacle, with some even chuckling at Nitish’s emphatic crowd control.While the Prime Minister acknowledged the welcome with his trademark folded hands, the unusual “crowd management” by Nitish Kumar is now doing the rounds on social media. Besides, in a significant political statement, Nitish used the rally to declare, “Not going anywhere, will remain with NDA henceforth.” Taking a dig at his past allies, he said he was “never comfortable in the RJD-Congress alliance,” accusing them of indulging in mischief whenever they shared power.The rally, held in the backdrop of PM Modi inaugurating and laying foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 36,000 crore in Purnea, underlined both the political messaging and the performative flair of the Bihar CM.
