Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar vowed to remain with the BJP during a joint public address with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening. Efforts remain underway to stitch together a seat-sharing arrangement in the poll-bound state with the JDU(U) as a senior partner. Meanwhile the Opposition INDIA bloc is facing several hurdles with simmering discord escalating into open clashes between the Congress and RJD.
Cracks in INDIA bloc?
Seat-sharing arrangements and the selection of a Chief Ministerial candidate have both emerged as key obstacles — with the INDIA bloc unable to reach consensus. The Congress has sought around 60-70 seats and also the post of Deputy CM. Meanwhile the RJD led by Tejashwi Yadav has pushed to be the dominant ally with fewer seats conceded to Congress and other partners. The deadlock has led to boycotts of joint meetings by RJD leaders and separate strategy sessions emphasising their assertiveness.
The latest flashpoint for the Mahagatbandhan (to which Kumar once belonged) emerged in the Kutumba constituency over the weekend. Conflict arose after RJD leaders abruptly boycotted a workers’ meeting arranged by Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram on Saturday without any explanation. They had subsequently organised a separate strategy meeting on Monday under the leadership of former RJD MLA Suresh Paswan.
Nitish Kumar says no plans to defect yet again
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will remain in the NDA, while regretting short-lived alliances with the RJD-Congress combine, which “always indulged in mischief when we shared power”.
Kumar was speaking at a rally in Purnea in the presence of Modi, weeks ahead of the announcement of assembly polls.
“It was the JD(U)-BJP combine which had formed a government in Bihar, for the first time, in November, 2005. For one or two times, I went to the other side, upon prodding of some of my own party colleagues, one of whom is sitting here,” said Kumar, pointing towards Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, whom he replaced as the party’s national president nearly two years ago.
“But, that is a thing of the past. I could never be comfortable with those people. They always indulged in mischief when we shared power… I am now back. And, I will not go anywhere henceforth,” said the JD(U) supremo, evoking a smile and applause from the PM.