In a political whirlwind, Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s seasoned politician, resigned as chief minister, severing ties with the Mahagathbandhan and causing a seismic shift in the state’s BJP.
The Governor accepted Nitish Kumar’s resignation but asked him to stay on as the temporary Chief Minister until a new government forms. Nitish is expected to be sworn in for the ninth time, and BJP’s JP Nadda will arrive in Bihar. Two Deputy Chief Ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, will be sworn in alongside Nitish. Nitish resigned citing issues within the grand alliance.
The Bihar Assembly has various party members, and Nitish first became Chief Minister in 2000, having held the position eight times. He has switched alliances over the years due to various reasons.
Breaking away from the alliance with the RJD, Kumar is poised to join the BJP-led NDA, eyeing an unprecedented ninth term as the Chief Minister.
Kumar’s departure dealt a significant blow to the opposition bloc INDIA, with the party’s political adviser accusing a section of the Congress leadership of repeatedly “insulting” Kumar. The Mahagathbandhan, already on shaky ground, is now teetering on the verge of collapse, impacting the political scenario not just in Bihar but also in Punjab and West Bengal.
Amidst the political turmoil, major parties—BJP, JD-U, and RJD—engaged in intense deliberations with their legislators. JD(U) blamed the Congress for the fallout, while the BJP strategized on welcoming Kumar back into the NDA fold. The RJD, the largest party in the legislative assembly, stood firm on not yielding ground in any situation.
The JD(U) and BJP’s consultations revealed the proposal of Renu Devi and Tarkishore Prasad for deputy chief minister positions. However, Sushil Modi, preferred by Kumar, might replace Prasad. The BJP’s alliance partners, LJP (Ram Vilas) and HAM-S, appear jittery over the unfolding developments.
Dhairya Saraswat