During a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made the long-standing gesture of sitting with his hands folded, which sparked political rumors and attracted harsh criticism from the opposition. In addition to introducing new youth-focused projects worth over Rs 62,000 crore, PM Modi gave certificates to toppers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) nationwide during the Chief Minister’s attendance at the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh 2025, a national skill convocation.
For about a minute, Kumar sat with his hands folded in a gesture of deference or intense focus during a portion where another leader gave out the program’s specifics. He looked sideways and occasionally shook his hands slightly. This out of the ordinary public gesture went viral right away and was exacerbated by opposing politicians.
The opposition, especially the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has been attacking Nitish Kumar, the veteran leader of the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), frequently lately. They have questioned his public behavior and health. They have pointed to a number of recent incidents of what they described as “unstable and erratic” behavior, raising doubts about his capacity to lead the state, particularly in light of the upcoming elections for the Bihar Assembly.
With the introduction of important programs like PM-SETU (Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation via Upgraded ITIs), a centrally supported program with an investment of Rs 60,000 crore, the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh was a momentous occasion for the state and the Center. Additionally, the Prime Minister specifically praised Kumar’s efforts for good governance by using the forum to highlight Bihar-specific initiatives, such as the creation of the Bihar Youth Commission and the Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University.
The folded-hands gesture, which comes from a leader who has also been observed making strange comments and trying to touch the prime minister’s feet at other recent public rallies, is perceived by some as yet another indication of physical or political weakness. His actions during the high-profile virtual event with the Prime Minister are expected to give the Opposition more ammo in the lead-up to the important elections, despite the fact that his party and allies have repeatedly denied these criticisms.
