Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened the first meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday, nearly nine months after rejoining the coalition. The timing is crucial, coinciding with upcoming bypolls and the lead-up to the 2025 Assembly elections. During the meeting, all NDA allies pledged to fight the upcoming elections under Kumar’s leadership, emphasising a commitment to “no compromise on communal harmony,” regardless of Muslim voter turnout.

According to The Indian Express report, Kumar, known for his attempts to showcase his secular credentials, made this assertion alongside senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh. Singh, who recently led a controversial ‘Hindu Swabhiman Yatra’ through the Muslim-majority Seemanchal region, notably refrained from invoking “Hindu pride” during the meeting, focusing instead on the development of Bihar under Kumar’s leadership.

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While the immediate agenda included preparations for the November 13 bypolls across four Assembly seats, sources within the JD(U) indicated that the meeting aimed to enhance coordination among NDA members, particularly in light of rising political influence from Prashant Kishor. There was also a clear message for the BJP to adhere to the traditional NDA stance of zero tolerance for crime and communal discord.

A JD(U) leader remarked, “The NDA meeting was necessary to set the record straight. Nitish alone is the NDA leader and there must be no ambiguity on our commitment to communal harmony.”

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Although discussions on the challenges posed by the RJD and Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party were not directly addressed, the NDA’s reduced Lok Sabha performance was a point of concern. The NDA won only 30 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar this year, down from 39 in 2019, with the BJP’s seat count dropping from 17 to 12.

The allies agreed on the importance of improved coordination down to the panchayat level. New district-level committees, termed the NDA “Bees Sutri,” will now conduct monthly reviews of development projects and public grievances, moving away from previous irregular meetings.

In closing, BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal reaffirmed that the next Assembly elections would be fought under Kumar’s leadership, reflecting the alliance’s commitment to unity and development.