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After Nitish Kumar swept Bihar -- a three-fourth majority for the Janata Dal-United-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in the assembly polls -- and recorded the biggest victory ever by a politician in the Hindi heartland, he has been labelled by many as the prime minister-in-waiting.
But in an interview with CNN-IBN, the Bihar chief minister said that he has never aspired for the post. He believes that people's faith in good governance has been established in Bihar and that law and order in the state has been improved. Here are the excerpts
On his relationship with BJP: "The relations with BJP will remain. We will keep working together. There should be no confusion about our relations with BJP."
On being seen as a future PM candidate: "I am NOT a PM candidate. I don't aspire and I don't even consider myself for this post. I have been assigned the job to work for Bihar and I will keep doing it."
Turning point and one factor that turned in favour of Nitish Kumar: "Law and order has improved. People's faith in good governance has been established. It's not a victory for any party but for the people of Bihar."
On high expectations by the people of Bihar: "Expectations are very high from our government. People are hopeful for good future. Every community of the society is excited."
On his agenda for the second term: "We will keep doing what we were doing. Apart from that we will focus on food security, power sector and corruption. We have made a law which enables us to confiscate the property of corrupt government officials."
"I need co-operation of the Centre and the opposition for the development of state. By serving the people of Bihar I am serving the nation."
On caste politics in Bihar: "This election has put an end to caste politics in Bihar. People of every community have voted for us especially women and youth."
On being asked if has any message for Lalu: "The message has been conveyed to Laluji by the people of Bihar. I don't think I need to give him any message."