Bihar In Turmoil: Nitish Kumar May Resign, Rejoin BJP Within 24 Hours, Oath Ceremony On Jan 28

In a significant political development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has delivered a substantial blow to the I.N.D.I.A bloc by announcing his decision to rejoin the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). According to reports, Kumar may consider realigning with the BJP to form a new government in the eastern state. A decision on this matter is anticipated within the next two to three days, according to the sources.

Despite the ongoing complexities, the seasoned JDU leader will continue in his role as Chief Minister until the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The sources suggest that the cabinet distribution from the previous JDU-BJP government is likely to be replicated.

Reports indicate Nitish Kumar's discontent with both his current coalition partner, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD, and the Congress, a member of the INDIA bloc. He is reportedly displeased with a now-deleted tweet from Lalu Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya, responding sharply to Bihar Chief Minister's 'parivarvaad' remark. Nitish Kumar is also said to be upset with the Congress for its indecision on seat sharing in Bihar and other states where regional parties have joined the INDIA bloc.

Sources suggest that Nitish Kumar believes Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' ahead of the Lok Sabha elections is undertaken primarily for the benefit of the grand old party rather than the INDIA alliance.

Nitish Kumar's discontent over failed seat-sharing talks is not an isolated case within the INDIA bloc. Recently, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee announced her party's decision to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls from the state independently due to dissatisfaction over seat sharing.

The last virtual meeting of the INDIA alliance occurred on January 13, where Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge was named as the group's chairperson. However, an official announcement on the same is pending. Nitish Kumar, offered the convener's post of the bloc at the meeting, declined, stating that he was not seeking any position. A final decision on the convener post was expected after discussions with leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav.

Sources indicate that despite a consensus on the coordinator and chairman, Rahul Gandhi insisted on further discussions, leading to Nitish Kumar's reported frustration with the prolonged deliberations.

The ongoing tension in the Bihar ruling alliance, escalating this week following a war of words between the JD(U) and the RJD after the posthumous conferment of the Bharat Ratna on socialist icon Karpoori Thakur by the BJP-headed central government, adds complexity to the political landscape in the state.