His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay with Bihar Chief Minister Hon Nitish Kumar in Bodhgaya on 8 January 2020. Photo: Screengrab

Dharamshala: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay today congratulated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) party’s emphatic win in the state assembly elections.

Nitish Kumar on Wednesday led his NDA Party to a landmark victory for another five-year term in office, winning 125 seats in the 243-member state assembly. With this term, he is set to become the longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar, breaking the state’s first CM S.K. Sinha’s record of 18-year tenure.

“On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people, I offer my sincerest congratulations on your reelection as the Chief Minister of Bihar,” Sikyong said in a congratulatory letter to the CM.

“I had the privilege of meeting you several times over the past decade. I know you as a person of humility, spirituality and conscience to serve the people of this great country India.. Under your excellent leadership, your administration has worked in the betterment of the people of Bihar, and its contribution to development, education and women empowerment is worthy of admiration. And through this election, the people of Bihar have once again reaffirmed their trust in your dynamic leadership.”

Sikyong hailed CM Kumar as “a true friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people”.

Describing Bihar as the spiritual home to Tibetans and Buddhist around the world, he thanked the Chief Minister for his notable contributions towards developing the state infrastructure to promote Bihar as a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination.

“Bihar indeed is the spiritual home to the Tibetans and Buddhists all around the world. His Holiness has since been a regular visitor to the state… Back in 1956, when His Holiness first visited Bodh Gaya and other holy sites in India, His Holiness wrote that he felt as if he had returned to his spiritual home.

“We will always be grateful to your warm hospitality and accommodations that made possible His Holiness’ visits, successful Kalachakra initiations and the copious of teachings that took place in Bodh Gaya, holiest place for Buddhist around the world.”

He concluded by wishing the fourth full-time Chief Minister another successful tenure.

“We are absolutely confident that you will take the state of Bihar to new heights of development and harmony. Once again, my sincerest congratulation.”