Bihar: Will Nitish Kumar dump RJD? Suspense continues, key meetings held in Delhi, Patna
Amid the political turmoil in Bihar, BJP MLA from Barh in Patna district, Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, claimed that Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar might shake hands with the BJP within the next 2-3 days.
Bihar Political Crisis: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may once again switch sides and go with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sources have said. The ruling Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance comprising JD(U), RJD and Congress) appeared to be on tenterhooks amid strong indications that Nitish may do yet another volte-face and return to NDA.
If Nitish Kumar dumps Lalu Yadav's RJD then it will come as a big jolt for the I.N.D.I.A bloc's unity as well, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Speculations are rife that all is not well in the Mahagathbandhan especially after yesterday's episode when Lalu Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya put out a series of tweets targeting the chief minister after his remarks on dynasty politics.
The trouble was out in the open when Kumar attended the high tea ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan on the occasion of the Republic Day but his deputy Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD skipped the function.
Kumar was seen exchanging pleasantries with other visitors, including BJP’s Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is also the leader of the opposition in the state assembly.
Emerging from the function, Kumar curtly told reporters that it was for Yadav and other leaders of the RJD, including Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, to comment on why they skipped the function. The only notable attendee from the party was state Education Minister Alok Mehta.
Neither Mehta nor any other leader of the RJD commented on the absence of Yadav, who is said to have gone into a huddle with close leaders of the party at his residence to chalk out a strategy to thwart the loss of power in the event of Kumar deciding to call off the alliance.
RJD national spokesman and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, who interacted with journalists, said "there is a lot of confusion which is not in the interest of the people of the state. Only the Chief Minister can put an end to the confusion. We hope he will do so by this evening itself”.
When asked about Jha's remarks, JD (U) chief spokesperson in the state, Neeraj Kumar shot back "our leader is in the Chief Minister’s residence as the leader of the Mahagathbandhan. There should be no scope for confusion. But if some people still choose to remain in confusion, we cannot help it”.
State JD(U) president Umesh Singh Kushwaha also refuted reports.
"All is well in Bihar's ruling Mahagathbandhan and the media speculations are driven by some agenda," Kushwaha told reporters.
He also said, "I met the CM yesterday as well as today. It is a routine affair. There is no truth in the rumours doing the rounds. We also reject the rumours that party MLAs have been asked to rush to Patna".
ALSO READ | Nitish Kumar to remain Bihar CM with BJP's support in big jolt to I.N.D.I.A bloc: Sources
Live updates : Bihar Political Twist
-
January 26, 2024 11:19 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Nitish Kumar
Union Minister Ashwini Kr. Choubey on Nitish Kumar | "Whether we want it or not, why does it matter?...whatever the party wants we will do that".
-
January 26, 2024 9:50 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Bihar political situation
JDU MLA Gopal Mandal on if JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh will join RJD | "RJD will never like Lalan Singh, he sent all of them to jail. Nobody will ask him in RJD..."
-
January 26, 2024 9:14 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Cannot say whether govt will fall, says RJD leader Ritial Yadav
"We cannot say if the government is falling or not. We should think about what we can do right now," says RJD leader Ritial Yadav amid buzz over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s return to NDA.
-
January 26, 2024 9:12 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Will accept central leadership's decision: Bihar BJP
Amid speculations about whether Nitish Kumar will join NDA, Bihar BJP said that they will accept central leadership's decision.
-
January 26, 2024 8:17 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Lalu Yadav, Shivanand Tiwari try to reach out Nitish Kumar
Meanwhile, Lalu Yadav and Shivanand Tiwari are continuously trying to contact Nitish Kumar but have not been able to establish contact so far. Shivanand Tiwari sought time from Nitish Kumar on Thursday. The Bihar CM said that he will get back but didn't call.
-
January 26, 2024 8:12 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Giriraj Singh on whether Nitish Kumar will come with NDA again
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on whether Nitish Kumar will go with NDA | "...Sadasyata ke liye koi ayenge tabhi to hum sochenge..."
-
January 26, 2024 8:10 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Won't impact I.N.D.I.A bloc, Mamata on if Nitish Kumar quits Opposition alliance
Amid strong rumours of Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar quitting the INDIA bloc and reuniting with the BJP in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the eventuality of Kumar’s exit will not affect the opposition bloc much.
“I think Nitish Kumar has lost his credibility in the eyes of the people of Bihar. If he quits, it will be easier for Tejashwi Yadav to operate smoothly in Bihar,” Banerjee told mediapersons on the sidelines of an event.
-
January 26, 2024 7:21 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
No one betrayed Lalu Yadav nor anyone can, says RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav
On the current political situation in Bihar, RJD MLA Ritlal Yadav says, "No one has betrayed our Lalu Prasad Yadav nor can anyone betray him. Only the public can betray him, otherwise, no one has that power. It doesn't matter whether we are in the government or not, we will work for the people."
-
January 26, 2024 6:10 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Nitish Kumar holds core team meeting in Patna
Nitish Kumar holds core team meeting with Vijay Chaudhary, Ashok Chaudhary, Lalan Singh, and Vashishtha Narayan Singh.
-
January 26, 2024 6:06 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Congress MLA Dr Shakeel Ahmad Khan on whether Nitish is going to join NDA
On the current political situation in Bihar, Bihar Congress MLA Dr Shakeel Ahmad Khan says, "There is no confirmation of the news that is coming. Our MLAs are united and stand with the party. There is no basis for such news..."
-
January 26, 2024 6:04 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
RLJD Chief Upendra Kushwaha on meeting with Union Minister Nityanand Rai
On meeting with Union Minister Nityanand Rai, RLJD Chief Upendra Kushwaha says, "Nityanand Rai and I are in the same alliance. There is no need to view this from a different perspective... Our meeting is very natural... Seeing the political situation in Bihar, it is only natural to discuss the situation when two people sit together..."
-
January 26, 2024 6:03 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
CPI(ML) leader Mahboob Alam on Bihar political situation
On the current political situation in Bihar, CPI(ML) leader Mahboob Alam says, "I had a word with Minister Vivek Kumar Choudhary around 11 am and he said there is no issue... you can't blame one person regarding seat sharing, did seat sharing happen in NDA? No, BJP wants to create differences in Mahagathbandhan over seat sharing. BJP has gone crazy... they want to win the Lok Sabha elections anyhow..."
-
January 26, 2024 5:59 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Union Minister Nityanand Rai meets RLJD Chief Upendra Kushwaha in Patna
Union Minister Nityanand Rai holds meeting with RLJD Chief Upendra Kushwaha at his residence, in Patna.
-
January 26, 2024 5:57 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Nitish Kumar should clear its stand, says Congress
Congress has asked Nitish Kumar to clear its stand on the I.N.D.I.A bloc as speculations rise that the Bihar chief minister may go with the BJP.
-
January 26, 2024 5:11 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Bihar BJP calls key on January 27
The state executive meeting of BJP Bihar called on 27 and 28 January. Bihar in-charge Vinod Tawde will go to Patna tomorrow i.e. January 27, sources said.
-
January 26, 2024 5:09 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Akhilesh Yadav on whether Nitish Kumar will join NDA?
On being asked if Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will be joining NDA, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "We hope that Nitish Kumar will not go to NDA. He will strengthen the INDIA alliance."
-
January 26, 2024 5:01 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Tejashwi Yadav calls key meeting in Patna
Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has called a meeting of his close aides at his official residence in Patna. The meeting is currently underway.
-
January 26, 2024 4:39 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Was aware since starting that RJD-JDU alliance will fall apart, says Jitan Ram Manjhi
On Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's absence at the official event in Raj Bhavan, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi says, "I was aware since starting that the alliance (RJD-JD (U)) will fall apart like a deck of cards..."
He further said that Tejashwi should've attended the Raj Bhavan event.
-
January 26, 2024 4:35 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Lalu asked Nitish Kumar to clear stand on I.N.D.I.A bloc, says RJD's Manoj Jha
RJD MP Manoj Jha said that RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has asked the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to clear his stand over I.N.D.I.A bloc.
He said that in the last one week there have been several news stories on social and mainstream media which are creating confusion about Nitish Kumar’s stand on I.N.D.I.A bloc.
“As Nitish Kumar is Bihar’s Chief Minister, he is the right person to resolve the confusion. It will be in the interest of common people of Bihar to get this confusion resolved,” Jha said.
Reportedly, Nitish Kumar is in constant touch with the BJP and speculation is rife that he may dump the RJD and other alliance partners again in coming days.
-
January 26, 2024 4:34 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Ask Tejashwi why he didn't attend Raj Bhavan event, says Nitish Kumar
When asked why Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav did not come for the official event at Raj Bhavan, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar says, "Ask those who did not come."
-
January 26, 2024 4:33 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Bihar LoP Vijay Kumar Sinha on Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav skipping Raj Bhavan event
On Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's absence at an official event in Raj Bhavan, Bihar LoP and BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "He (Tejashwi Yadav) will tell about this (his absence at the event).
-
January 26, 2024 4:27 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Neither happy or unhappy, says Union Minister Giriraj Singh
On Bihar CM & JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh says, "I'm confident that central high command will take a decision as per the interest of the nation and party (BJP)... I am neither happy nor unhappy... I know that whatever the decision will be, I am a party worker and my job is to accept the decision of the party irrespective of what is inside my mind".
-
January 26, 2024 4:25 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Watch | Nitish Kumar interacts with BJP MLA and LoP Vijay Kumar Sinha at Raj Bhavan
Amid talks that Nitish may quit Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar was seen interacting with Bihar LoP and BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha at the official event in Raj Bhavan, Patna. Till now, no RJD leader has arrived at the event.
-
January 26, 2024 4:10 PM (IST) Posted by Shashwat Bhandari
Nitish Kumar may resign as Bihar CM tomorrow
Nitish Kumar may resign as Bihar Chief Minister on Saturday and once again side with the BJP, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due to be held in April-May this year.