Being the star campaigner of JD(U), Nitish Kumar has addressed more than 280 election meetings across 243 assembly constituencies since October 8. He will finally close his campaign on November 20 at Dumraon. By that time he is expected to touch the 300 figure.
During these 40 days he took a break for only three days and that, too, because of Chhath. He campaigned on Diwali and will address a few meetings on Bakrid.
"I used all pathies — allopathy, homoeopathy, naturopathy and ayurveda to keep my throat healthy. I also take honey and herbs, including clove. It helps me a lot," said Nitish, who is the son of an ayurveda practitioner. "I know some ayurveda drugs and herbs which suite me."
He refused to give credit to any particular doctor for his almost "perfect throat". A doctor tried to take credit, but Nitish snubbed him, "Sorry. It was not your medicine alone. I used several things to keep fit during this crucial period."
The microphone, however, plays a key role in the health of the throat. "If the mike is all right then I speak without any strain. But if the mike is bad, it puts much pressure and I have to speak loudly. Otherwise I don't speak loudly. Only those who have nothing to prove speak loudly," he said, hinting at his rival and RJD supremo, Lalu Prasad, who loves thundering over the microphone.
Nitish addressed, on an average, eight election meetings every day. "I started with seven meetings for a few days and then graduated to nine without a break. Chhath was the only time when I suspended campaigning for three days," he said.
For the past 40 days, Nitish's schedule was marked by a rush to the hanger and then flying out to different assembly constituencies and returning home only after sunset. Initially, he camped in Madhepura, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur and carried on his campaign from there. Among his companions were one of the two Sanjays — Sanjay Kumar Singh of JD(U) or Sanjay Jha of BJP, both MLCs.
Everyday, Nitish spoke for around two hours at meetings. Some halts were not more than 15 minutes. He would take generous sips of tea as the hot beverage is believed to work wonders for the throat.
"In this election Laluji could not find an issue and throughout he tried explaining his position and regrets for past mistakes. He tried to make some new points. But they backfired like the motorcycle to students or 'ghunghroo' for him," Nitish said.
In no time Nitish started making a parody of these two points and Lalu stopped repeating them. "Later on I also avoided referring to them but the crowd would ask me to speak about motorcycle and ghungroo. It is at their prodding that I keep on telling them to give ghungroo to Lalu and vote to me!" he said with a guffaw.
Source:TNN
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