Buzz on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s return to NDA, hectic parleys on

Aditi Tandon

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New Delhi, January 25

Hectic political developments marked the day in Bihar and Delhi amid strong buzz of Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar veering towards the BJP-led NDA, in what could be his fifth switch of camps since 2013.

If this happens, it would effectively deal a death blow to the anti-BJP INDIA bloc, which Nitish scripted.

The BJP top brass is learnt to have summoned state unit chief Samrat Chaudhary, party general secretary Bihar Vinod Tawde and former state deputy CM Sushil Modi for discussions on the matter with meetings underway.

Although Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier ruled out Nitish’s reentry into the NDA, he recently struck a conciliatory note, saying, “We will consider if such a proposal comes.” Sources said Nitish, 72, could even share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the February 4 Bettiah rally.

The BJP is learnt to be working out a timeline for Nitish’s return to the NDA while all eyes remain on the Bihar CM’s next move and on whether he will walk out of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government and the INDIA alliance which the TMC and AAP also snubbed on Wednesday.

The Centre’s move to confer Bharat Ratna on late Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur may prove to be a decisive factor, helping Nitish rejoin the NDA.

After the award was announced, Nitish said he had been demanding the honour for the late socialist icon since 2007, but it was the BJP government that finally granted it. Nitish thanked the PM for the award.

Signs of Nitish’s growing indifference with the RJD in the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ and with the INDIA alliance have been visible for a while.

He recently took potshots at parties promoting dynastic politics — a swipe seen for the RJD, provoking party supremo Lalu Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya to hit back on social media only to delete her post later.

It is learnt that as Nitish huddled with JD(U) leaders and MLAs in Patna today, Lalu called him up to placate him.

The RJD also issued a statement saying Rohini’s remarks were aimed at PM Modi and not Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, the Bihar BJP backed Nitish on the issue and demanded apology from Rohini.

Within the INDIA bloc, Nitish has been unhappy over being passed over for the leadership role which alliance partners have finalised for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, though the formal announcement has not been made. Kharge has said he will accept the role of INDIA bloc chairperson only if Nitish accepts to be convener.

Nitish is also cross with the Congress for delaying the seat-sharing talks.

Meanwhile, Nitish and Lalu cold war recently unravelled when Nitish ousted Lalan Singh as JD(U) chief, assuming the mantle himself.

Governor cancels travel plans

The Bihar Governor is learnt to have cancelled plans to travel to Goa on Friday. Two possibilities are said to be on the table — either Nitish continues as the CM with BJP support and the two parties contest LS polls together or the Assembly is dissolved and state polls held with national polls.