Former Member of Parliament from Muzaffarpur Captain (Retd.) Jai Narayan Nishad took his last breath today morning in New Delhi’s Max Hospital. He was ill since few months. Bihar’s Governor, Chief Minister and leaders across the political spectrum have mourned his death. Sitting Lok Sabha MP from Muzaffarpur Ajay Nishad is his son.
He was a five time Lok Sabha MP from Muzaffarpur seat and one time Rajya Sabha MP with a political life of great variance. He entered the Parliament from three different political parties i.e. RJD, BJP and JDU. As an RJD leader under Prime Ministership of IK Gujral he became the Minister for Non-Renewable Energy.
Nishad went to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP member and in 2009 he won the Lok Sabha seat on JDU ticket. In his political life he used say, “I am such a helmsman who can sail any boat successfully.”
In 2008 Captain (Retd.) Nishad was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha and it was done on the basis of a petition filed by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj against him on charges that he campaigned against the party.
In 2011 he had raised the issue of Bihar’s bifurcation into North and South Bihar. On division he wrote to CM Nitish Kumar and said, “The holy river Ganga flows through central Bihar, therefore area north of it should be called as North Bihar similarly area south of the Ganga should be named as South Bihar. North Bihar has 127 assembly segments. As Muzaffarpur is situated in the central part of North, it should be made the capital.”
During Presidential elections of 2012, he expressed his desire to contest the Presidential election for which also slammed JDU chief Sharad Yadav for not proposing his name in the meeting of NDA.
After ties between JDU-BJP got bitter in 2013, Captain Nishad met the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and expressed that he should become the PM. He even organized a “yagna” seeking divine intervention for Modi’s success. Captain (Retd.) Jai Narayan Nishad was a towering sociopolitical figure who mastered the art of ruling hearts of many. This gets reflected in his political journey as a parliamentarian for five terms.
Coming from a Defence background, Jai Narayan Nishad was a true patriot who loved his people and showcased all his effort to emancipate every section of society. He belonged to the backward community but became choice of the forward community which led to successive victories, said, Saket Kumar Sahi, Muzaffarpur resident and retired UCO Bank Officer. Last rites of the departed leader will be performed in Hajipur tomorrow.
