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”.
