Amid ongoing developments in Bihar, all mainstream political parties in the State held meetings on Saturday with party leaders and legislators in Patna. The political flurry followed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s likely break away from the mahagathbandhan in order to reunite with the Bharatiya Janata Party amid escalating tensions with allies from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, along with whom Mr. Kumar had formed mahagathbandhan government in August 2022, is currently holding a crisis meeting with party legislators at Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s official residence. Meanwhile, the Congress party is huddling with party legislators at Purnia where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is scheduled to reach on January 30.
Amid these developments, the Congress party has appointed former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as a senior observer for Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other party activities in Bihar. Dismissing rumours that some Congress MLAs in Bihar are in touch with the Janata Dal (United) leadership and with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during this volatile political situation, Congress MLA Shakeel Ahmad Khan asserted, “All our party leaders and legislators are intact and solidly with the party.” Mr. Khan added that he was “aghast at the ongoing rumour-mongering”.
It is being rumoured that the Congress party leadership have spoken to Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi in the hopes of soliciting his support of four MLAs. HAM(S) party sources have denied this as political chatter and hearsay.
The RJD leaders told mediapersons that it was a “routine meeting”, and they had “no idea what politically developments are going on in the State”. However, in the meeting did witness RJD chief Lalu Prasad being given authorisation to take any decision on party’s behalf.
Sources in the RJD told The Hindu that party leader Tejashwi Yadav has asked legislators not to say anything in media against the present government.
“The RJD wants to take advantage of the victim card saying it was Nitish Kumar who parted ways from us,” a senior RJD leader told The Hindu on condition of anonymity. “The government may change tomorrow,” the leader hastily added.
It is also said that all Ministers in the Nitish Kumar government from the RJD quota have returned their official vehicles to the government.
The core committee members of the JD(U) including CM Kumar’s Ministerial colleagues Ashok Choudhary, Vijay Chaudhary, Sanjay Jha, and party MP from Munger Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh are present in the meeting at Chief Minister Kumar’s official residence 1, Anne Marg.
The BJP, with whom Mr. Kumar looks all set to join hands again, is also holding meetings with all top party leaders at a hotel in Patna at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Along with Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde, the senior State party leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi, Giriraj Singh, Mangal Pandey, Nityanand Rai, and State party president Samrat Choudhary are present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, sources in the government told The Hindu that Mr. Kumar may take oath as Chief Minister of the State, for ninth time since November 2005, at 4:00 p.m. in Raj Bhawan on Sunday. Senior State BJP leader and party Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi may be sworn in as Deputy CM.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday went to Buxar to participate in a government function and came back to Patna to attend party’s core committee meeting at his official residence. Mr. Kumar has convened meeting of party legislators on Saturday at 7 p.m.
“After the swearing-in, BJP legislators could also participate in the meeting to present a united face of the NDA at the CM’s official residence,” a senior BJP leader said. The NDA legislators led by Nitish Kumar are likely to reach Raj Bhawan unitedly on Sunday before the oath taking ceremony, the BJP leader added.
When asked why Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took a sudden turnaround to join hands with the BJP again, a senior RJD leader said that Mr. Kumar “may want to have a trouble-free political life after 2025”.
The RJD leader reminded of the multiple investigations against party chief Lalu Prasad who is “constantly haunted by central investigative agencies in some case or other”.
“Presently, it is a two way street - the BJP wants Mr. Kumar’s support for the its mission to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi a third consecutive term, and Mr. Kumar may play a positive role in their game plan in Bihar. In turn, Mr. Kumar is attempting to secure a trouble free life after the 2025 State assembly election,” political analyst Ajay Kumar said. “Politics these days have become personal and not public oriented,” he quickly added.
CM Nitish Kumar may resign tonight and stake claim before Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arkekar to form the next government in alliance with NDA on Sunday.‘Sushil Kumar Modi to return as Deputy CM’
Meanwhile, sources in the government told The Hindu that Mr. Kumar may take oath as the Chief Minister of the State at 4 pm in Raj Bhawan on Sunday. Senior state BJP leader and party Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi too may take oath as Deputy CM along with Mr Kumar. Earlier in NDA government, Mr. Modi was the Deputy Chief Minister and he is considered close to Mr Kumar.
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If it happens, it will be Mr. Kumar’s ninth time since November 2005, and the third time since Bihar went to polls in 2020.
“Later, the BJP legislators too could participate in the meeting to present a united face of NDA at CM’s official residence”, said senior BJP leader. The NDA legislators led by Nitish Kumar are likely to reach Raj Bhawan unitedly tomorrow before the oath taking ceremony the same day, said the BJP leader.
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When asked why Mr. Kumar took a sudden turnaround to join hands with the BJP again, a senior RJD leader said, Mr Kumar “may want to have a trouble-free political life after 2025 for the rest of his life. Not like our party chief Lalu Prasad, who is constantly haunted by central investigative agencies in some case or other.”
“Presently, it is both ways: BJP too wants his support for the its mission to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the post for third consecutive terms and Mr. Kumar may play a positive role in their game plan in Bihar and Mr Kumar, could be looking at his trouble-free rest of political life after 2025 state assembly elections”, said political analyst Ajay Kumar while adding quickly, “politics these days have become personal and not public oriented.”
PTI adds:
An inauguration that fuelled rumours
Earlier in the day, Mr. Kumar visited Buxar district, bordering Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the beautification work at the famous Baba Brahmeshwar Nath temple in Brahmpur. He was accompanied by his colleague and state minister Ashok Choudhary. Union Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey, who is Buxar MP, was also present.
Notably, the project was undertaken by the state tourism department, a portfolio held by Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav who skipped the function.
