Bihar political crisis: Nitish Kumar is now known more for his political flip-flops – he has been jumping between the BJP, Congress, and/or Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal since 2013 – than his governance record that once earned him the title ‘Sushasan Babu’, acquiring the moniker ‘Paltu Ram’. After parting ways with the BJP in 2022, he had taken the lead in uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 elections.
Nitish Kumar appears all set to make his second political volte-face in less than 18 months, with highly-placed sources close to Kumar saying that the Bihar Chief Minister will resign today after 12 noon. Later, at 4 PM, the JD(U) leader will take oath as Chief Minister of the new JD(U)-BJP government – this will be the ninth time that Nitish Kumar will head the state.
Before submitting his resignation, Kumar will hold a customary meeting of the legislature party, the source added.
The names of the ministers doing the rounds include JD(U) leader Ashok Chaudhary, Vijay Chaudhary and Sanjay Jha. Sushil Modi (Kumar’s Deputy in the previous alliance) and his party colleague Renu Devi are also frontrunners to the post, sources added.
The reports of Nitish Kumar’s possible exit has forced its alliance partner RJD to hold extensive deliberations over the course of action to be followed in the event of Kumar calling off the Mahagathbandhan alliance and returning to the BJP-led NDA.
According to reports, government offices like the secretariat have been asked to remain open on Sunday “in view of hectic activity expected during the day” that may see the installation of a new government with the BJP’s support.