All is not seemingly well in the National Democratic Alliance. There is massive speculation that Bihar Chief Minister Janata Dal United leader Nitish Kumar is considering parting ways with the NDA, yet again.
The speculation of an imminent separation has been fuelled after last week’s visit of Nitish to the national capital when the Bihar CM didn’t meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Bharatiya Janata Party chief JP Nadda.
The brief trip by Nitish also drew a barb by opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, which stated that NDA is not giving importance to the Bihar Chief Minister and claimed that the BJP is preparing to remove from the chair.
Though the JDU and BJP leaders have repeatedly claimed that there is no strain in ties between the two alliance partners, there is seemingly growing unease between them. Nitish had previously severed ties with the NDA in 2022 to form a government in Bihar with the RJD.
Ever since his return to the NDA, there has been repeated speculation about whether Nitish will part ways with the alliance again, as his relationship with the BJP has been tumultuous in the past.
Interestingly, due to his repeated political flip flops, Nitish Kumar has even been termed as “Kursi Kumar” by political friends and foes alike.
Elections to the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly are scheduled to take place later this year. And any move by Nitish, with just a few months for polls, is expected to have far reaching consequences on the political landscape of the state.
Over the past few months into Modi 3.0, differences between the two allies have surfaced repeatedly. Despite being an ally, JDU has taken a clear stand against the BJP’s pitch on issues like caste-based census and the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Moreover, if Nitish feels that it would be beneficial for him to leave the NDA to regain power in Bihar, he is likely to join hands with former ally RJD ahead of the crucial polls.
His decision to rejoin NDA ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls may have been a strategic move to consolidate power in Bihar, but in state polls he is likely to take a decision on a possible ally after assessing which political outfit suits him to retain power.
Over the past few weeks, Nitish has also been facing protests over alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. Protesters, primarily students and aspirants, are demanding the cancellation of the exam, citing widespread misconduct. This is also likely to be assessed for a political fallout before a decision on the issue is made.
With last minute surveys being commissioned in Bihar by political parties, it remains to be seen whether Nitish will remain with the NDA or forge a new path for JDU.
