In a surprising turn of events, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar is poised to take the oath as Bihar Chief Minister, supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to a report by NDTV. Rumors circulating suggest that Kumar may join forces with the BJP, led by Prime Minister Modi, as differences deepen with his allies in the INDIA bloc.
The rift between Kumar and the INDIA bloc has been growing, with the longest-serving chief minister expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of a suitable position in the alliance. Additionally, Kumar favors an early assembly poll coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections, further straining the alliance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent meetings with key Bihar BJP leaders, including Samrat Choudhary, Sushil Modi, and Vijay Kumar Sinha in Delhi, have fueled speculation about the possibility of Kumar rejoining the BJP fold. The BJP appears open to welcoming Kumar back, especially as signs of disconnect among the INDIA parties in Bihar become apparent.
The INDIA bloc, facing incoherence and distrust, suffered setbacks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announcing their parties’ decision to go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This development is advantageous for the BJP, as the same alliance had handed it a significant defeat in the 2015 assembly polls before Kumar’s return to the NDA, leading to a sweeping victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Kumar had earlier joined the opposition’s alliance in 2022 as the BJP asserted itself following JD(U)’s sub-par performance in the 2020 assembly polls. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s return to the national capital amid tensions with Kumar has further fueled the turmoil within the INDIA bloc. Gandhi has temporarily paused the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and is expected to resume on January 28 from Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
The political landscape in Bihar is undergoing a significant shift, and the coming days are crucial as alliances and partnerships continue to evolve in the lead-up to the elections.
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