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NEW DELHI: The political unrest in Bihar intensified on Saturday amid mounting speculation that chief minister Nitish Kumar is set to exit the JD(U)-RJD-Congress Grand Alliance and join hands with the BJP yet again.
Some reports suggested that the JD(U) chief, who has oscillated between RJD and BJP over the last decade, could form a fresh government with BJP as early as Sunday and take oath for a record 9th term.
The latest political crisis prompted all the major parties in the state to go into a huddle and chart their next political action. It also threatens to destablise the opposition bloc INDIA in the state, which was formed to counter BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Here are the latest developments …
All eyes on Nitish Kumar
The Bihar chief minister, who has maintained a silence on the political developments, continued to keep his cards close to his chest.
However, top JD(U) leaders rushed to the Bihar chief minister’s residence amid indications that the party may return to the NDA fold.
Leaders like former national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, ‘Lalan’, minister and national general secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha and state legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur reached 1, Anney Marg, the CM’s official residence in Patna, around the same time when a meeting of legislators of the RJD, the JD(U)’s current ally, was under way.
Nitish to resign by Sunday morning: Source
Sources close to Nitish told PTI that the chief minister is likely to tender his resignation to the Bihar governor on Sunday.
A source said though the possibility of resignation by late Saturday evening could not be ruled out, “it would definitely take place by Sunday morning”.
He also said prior to putting in his papers, Kumar, the JD(U) president will hold a customary meeting of the legislature party.
The source said government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday “in view of hectic activity expected during the day”, which may see a new government with the BJP’s support.
JD(U) targets Congress
Meanwhile, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi blamed Congress for the INDIA bloc facing issues in multiple states in a big hint that his party is all set to part ways with the Mahagathbandhan.
“The effort and intention with which Nitish Kumar had formed the INDIA alliance is on the verge of breaking due to the irresponsible and obstinate attitude of Congress,” Tyagi said.
Notably, JD(U) wanted Nitish Kumar to be the leader of the opposition bloc. However, the allies chose Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the role after Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal proposed his name.
The JD(U) chief was also angry with the Congress for playing the “big brother” role in the alliance and delaying the seat-sharing talks.
Khel abhi baki hai: RJD
Meanwhile, JD(U)’s ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also went into a huddle amid indications of a break-up.
During a meeting in Patna, convened by deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD authorised party chief Lalu Yadav to take a decision on the issue.
According to sources, Tejashwi told the leaders at the meeting that the Nitish Kumar is “respectable” but there were many factors which were not under his “control.”
He also hinted at many unexpected developments in the state.
“The chief minister used to sit with me on the stage and ask, ‘What was there in Bihar before 2005?’ I never reacted… Now, more people are with us. Whatever remained undone in two decades, we managed to get it done within a short time- be it jobs, caste census, increasing reservation, etc. ‘Bihar mein abhi khel hona baki hain’ (The game is yet to begin in Bihar),” Yadav reportedly said.
RJD is the largest alliance partner in the ‘Mahagathbandhan,’ which includes Congress and three Left parties.
Cong scrambles to avert crisis
Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge said that his party is trying to make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united.
He, however, maintained that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD(U) leadership’s mind.
In a message to Nitish, Kharge said that Congress expects that those who have the desire to protect the country’s Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps.
Responding to a question on the possibility of JD(U) exiting INDIA alliance, Kharge said, “Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U) leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don’t know clearly what is in their minds
Separately, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told a press conference that Kharge is trying to get in touch with Nitish but has not been able to connect with him yet.
Chirag Paswan raises concerns
Amid a flurry of political developments, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Saturday “strongly” raised his party’s concerns over Nitish’s potential return to NDA.
Paswan reportedly received “assurances” in a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda on the issues raised by him.
Following the meeting, Paswan told reporters he would first wait to see whether the Janata Dal (United) president joins the BJP-led alliance or not before finalising his party’s stand on the matter.
The son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan did not reveal what Shah and Nadda told him about political developments in the state.
“We have had our concerns which grew amid these reports but without any authorised information on the developments in Bihar. I strongly raised my concerns in the meeting and received assurances on many issues,” he said.
BJP monitoring situation in Bihar
Union minister Giriraj Singh has said the BJP central leadership is “monitoring the political situation in Bihar”.
Talking to PTI on Saturday, Singh said “Our Central leaders will take decision accordingly”.
“Nitish Kumar is currently the chief minister of Bihar. Lalu Prasad’s led RJD and Congress are the alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar. Our Central leadership is monitoring the situation … Our central leaders will take decisions accordingly,” the Union rural development minister said.
His remarks come a day after senior BJP leader and former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi dropped a big hint on the political developments in the state.
Sushil Modi said that “politics is about probabilities”, adding that “in politics, doors can never be closed”.
(With inputs from agencies)
Some reports suggested that the JD(U) chief, who has oscillated between RJD and BJP over the last decade, could form a fresh government with BJP as early as Sunday and take oath for a record 9th term.
The latest political crisis prompted all the major parties in the state to go into a huddle and chart their next political action. It also threatens to destablise the opposition bloc INDIA in the state, which was formed to counter BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Here are the latest developments …
All eyes on Nitish Kumar
The Bihar chief minister, who has maintained a silence on the political developments, continued to keep his cards close to his chest.
However, top JD(U) leaders rushed to the Bihar chief minister’s residence amid indications that the party may return to the NDA fold.
Leaders like former national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, ‘Lalan’, minister and national general secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha and state legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur reached 1, Anney Marg, the CM’s official residence in Patna, around the same time when a meeting of legislators of the RJD, the JD(U)’s current ally, was under way.
Nitish to resign by Sunday morning: Source
Sources close to Nitish told PTI that the chief minister is likely to tender his resignation to the Bihar governor on Sunday.
A source said though the possibility of resignation by late Saturday evening could not be ruled out, “it would definitely take place by Sunday morning”.
He also said prior to putting in his papers, Kumar, the JD(U) president will hold a customary meeting of the legislature party.
The source said government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday “in view of hectic activity expected during the day”, which may see a new government with the BJP’s support.
JD(U) targets Congress
Meanwhile, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi blamed Congress for the INDIA bloc facing issues in multiple states in a big hint that his party is all set to part ways with the Mahagathbandhan.
“The effort and intention with which Nitish Kumar had formed the INDIA alliance is on the verge of breaking due to the irresponsible and obstinate attitude of Congress,” Tyagi said.
Notably, JD(U) wanted Nitish Kumar to be the leader of the opposition bloc. However, the allies chose Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the role after Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal proposed his name.
The JD(U) chief was also angry with the Congress for playing the “big brother” role in the alliance and delaying the seat-sharing talks.
Khel abhi baki hai: RJD
Meanwhile, JD(U)’s ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also went into a huddle amid indications of a break-up.
During a meeting in Patna, convened by deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD authorised party chief Lalu Yadav to take a decision on the issue.
According to sources, Tejashwi told the leaders at the meeting that the Nitish Kumar is “respectable” but there were many factors which were not under his “control.”
He also hinted at many unexpected developments in the state.
“The chief minister used to sit with me on the stage and ask, ‘What was there in Bihar before 2005?’ I never reacted… Now, more people are with us. Whatever remained undone in two decades, we managed to get it done within a short time- be it jobs, caste census, increasing reservation, etc. ‘Bihar mein abhi khel hona baki hain’ (The game is yet to begin in Bihar),” Yadav reportedly said.
RJD is the largest alliance partner in the ‘Mahagathbandhan,’ which includes Congress and three Left parties.
Cong scrambles to avert crisis
Congress president M Mallikarjun Kharge said that his party is trying to make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united.
He, however, maintained that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD(U) leadership’s mind.
In a message to Nitish, Kharge said that Congress expects that those who have the desire to protect the country’s Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps.
Responding to a question on the possibility of JD(U) exiting INDIA alliance, Kharge said, “Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U) leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don’t know clearly what is in their minds
Separately, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told a press conference that Kharge is trying to get in touch with Nitish but has not been able to connect with him yet.
Chirag Paswan raises concerns
Amid a flurry of political developments, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Saturday “strongly” raised his party’s concerns over Nitish’s potential return to NDA.
Paswan reportedly received “assurances” in a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda on the issues raised by him.
Following the meeting, Paswan told reporters he would first wait to see whether the Janata Dal (United) president joins the BJP-led alliance or not before finalising his party’s stand on the matter.
The son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan did not reveal what Shah and Nadda told him about political developments in the state.
“We have had our concerns which grew amid these reports but without any authorised information on the developments in Bihar. I strongly raised my concerns in the meeting and received assurances on many issues,” he said.
BJP monitoring situation in Bihar
Union minister Giriraj Singh has said the BJP central leadership is “monitoring the political situation in Bihar”.
Talking to PTI on Saturday, Singh said “Our Central leaders will take decision accordingly”.
“Nitish Kumar is currently the chief minister of Bihar. Lalu Prasad’s led RJD and Congress are the alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar. Our Central leadership is monitoring the situation … Our central leaders will take decisions accordingly,” the Union rural development minister said.
His remarks come a day after senior BJP leader and former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi dropped a big hint on the political developments in the state.
Sushil Modi said that “politics is about probabilities”, adding that “in politics, doors can never be closed”.
(With inputs from agencies)
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