After former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur was awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously, CM Nitish Kumar called it "a right decision". He asserted that he had been demanding Bharat Ratna for Thakur for a long time. He added, "This will create positive vibe among Dalits, deprived and neglected sections of society." Thakur was known for his initiatives towards uplifting the backward castes.