As Bihar gears up for Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons on Tuesday. The veteran leader, who is seeking a record fifth consecutive term, drew criticism over his awkward conduct during an election rally, with opposition leaders questioning his mental state.

Kumar, aged 75, began his campaign in Meenapur and Kanti assembly constituencies of Muzaffarpur district, where he addressed public gatherings while mostly reading from a written speech. His behaviour at one of the events sparked a wave of social media reactions and political attacks, with rivals alleging that the chief minister appeared “disoriented” and “unfit” to continue leading the state.

Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, stirred the political atmosphere further with a serious accusation against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Kishor alleged that senior BJP leaders — including Union Home Minister Amit Shah — were directly involved in attempts to poach his party’s candidates ahead of the polls.

“These efforts to break our candidates show how nervous the ruling alliance has become,” Kishor claimed, calling the alleged moves a “desperate bid to weaken new political alternatives in Bihar.”

With both controversies making headlines, the political atmosphere in Bihar has turned tense. As the campaign season intensifies, Nitish Kumar’s conduct and Kishor’s allegations are expected to dominate the narrative in the run-up to the elections.