Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, a key ally in the I.N.D.I.A bloc, brushed aside speculations of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returning to the NDA. In a statement to reporters on Friday, Yadav expressed confidence that Nitish Kumar would continue to fortify the I.N.D.I.A bloc, formed to counter the BJP-led central government in the upcoming general elections.
“There is no such sign. We hope that Nitish Kumar will not go to NDA. He will strengthen the I.N.D.I.A alliance,” Yadav told news agency ANI.
The unity of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) faced uncertainty amid ongoing speculation about Nitish Kumar’s potential exit from the 28-party opposition bloc, created to challenge the BJP-led Central government.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD President Lalu’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, initially criticised the ruling ally JDU, suggesting ideological shifts within the party. However, the posts were later deleted, underscoring potential tensions within the ruling alliance.
If Nitish Kumar decides to switch sides, it would mark the fourth time he changes political affiliations. In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the RJD holds 79 seats, followed by the BJP with 78, JD(U) with 45, Congress with 19, CPI (M-L) with 12, and two each for CPI(M) and CPI. Additionally, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) has four seats, AIMIM has one, and there is one Independent legislator.
Amidst discussions of a deepening divide, separate meetings were held by RJD and JD(U) on Thursday, while BJP state president Samrat Choudhary headed to Delhi for discussions with top BJP leaders.
Adding weight to the possibility of Nitish Kumar rejoining the NDA, Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi, stated that doors are never closed permanently in politics. He mentioned discussions on Lok Sabha election strategies during a recent meeting and indicated that the central leadership would decide whether the door for Nitish Kumar remains open.
READ | ‘Door Not Permanently Closed’: Sushil Modi Amid Speculation Around Nitish Kumar’s NDA Return
Nitish Kumar, who defeated the BJP in the 2015 assembly elections in alliance with the RJD, later switched allegiance to the NDA in 2017. Sushil Modi, the Deputy Chief Minister in the NDA government in Bihar in 2022, witnessed Nitish Kumar sever ties with the BJP and align with the RJD and Congress before quitting the BJP in August 2022, resulting in a shift in power.
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