Bihar Political Crisis LIVE: Nitish Takes Oath as CM along with BJP, JD(U) Leaders; PM Modi Congratulates 'New Team'
Catch all LIVE updates of Bihar's political crisis and Nitish Kumar's return to BJP-led NDA here.
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Bihar Political Crisis, Nitish Kumar Resignation LIVE Updates: Sealing his return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) leader Nitish Kumar on Sunday, 28 January, took oath as the chief minister for the ninth time, hours after he resigned from the post to walk out of the Mahagathbandhan alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the INDIA bloc.
The leaders who took oath with Nitish Kumar include Samrat Chaudhary (BJP), Vijay Sinha (BJP), Prem Kumar (BJP), Bijendra Prasad Yadav (JD(U)), Vijay Kumar Chaudhary (JD(U)), Sharavan Kumar (JD(U)), Sumit Singh (Independent), and Santosh Suman (HAM).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X to congratulate the Nitish Kumar and the and expressed confidence that the "team will serve family members of the state with full dedication."
Developments before the ceremony: Shortly after tendering his resignation to the Governor on Sunday morning, Kumar met with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, following which he staked claim to form the government with the support of 128 MLAs.
Addressing the media after submitting his resignation to the Governor, Kumar said: "I have resigned as the CM and given a letter to the governor to dissolve government. There were suggestions from all leaders that I should resign. I had issues, that's why I resigned. I had left the previous alliance and made a new one but I saw that the situation here was not good. So, the suggestion (to step down) was coming from all sides."
The resignation comes as a big blow to the Opposition's unity, as the JD(U) blamed the RJD for 'several issues' in Bihar and the Congress for rifts in the INDIA bloc.
Reacting to the events, RJD leader and former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav said: "People said that he (Nitish) did not work. We made him work. People called him a 'thaka hua' CM. He doesn't understand what he is talking. There is no anger or disappointment in the RJD. We worked well in the Mahagathbandhan. I just want to say that the game is still on."
Other Key developments so far:
Bihar BJP leaders met Nitish Kumar at his residence to extend a letter of support shortly after his resignation.
The oath-taking ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan at 5:00 pm.
Eight leaders were sworn in with Nitish Kumar - three from the JD(U), three from the BJP, one from Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morch (HAM), and one independent MLA.
BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary, along with Vijay Sinha were sworn in as deputy chief ministers.
Addressing the media earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party was aware of Nitish's move.
Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi on Sunday said: "There were issues with RJD locally but the INDIA alliance will fall due to the Congress' attitude."
JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar speaks with the media after submitting his resignation as Bihar chief minister to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, outside Raj Bhavan, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar speaks with the media after submitting his resignation as Bihar chief minister to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, outside Raj Bhavan, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar receives JD(U) chief Nitish Kumars resignation as the state chief minister, at Raj Bhavan, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar with BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha and others meets Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar to stake claim to form the government in the state, at Raj Bhavan, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
BJP leaders during BJP legislative party meeting at the party office, in Patna, Saturday, 27 January.
BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde with Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary and party leader Vijay Kumar Sinha adresses a press conference, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary with party leader Vijay Kumar Sinha during BJP legislative party meeting at the party office, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar with BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde and Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary on his way to meet Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge speaks with the media, on Sunday, 28 January.
Security personnel outside the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
RJD supporters protest against JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, outside RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadavs residence in Patna, Sunday, 28 January.
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Resignation at 11:30 am?
According to reports, Nitish Kumar is expected to meet the Bihar Governor at 11.30 am on 28 January, likely to resign as the chief minister. The 72-year-old is expected to hold a meeting with JD(U) legislators before meeting the governor.
'Chirag Paswan's Role Clear, Believes in PM Modi'
LJP (Ram Vilas) president Raju Tiwari told news agency ANI, "The CM has not resigned yet. He is still the CM of mahagathbandhan. If he resigns, we will see what happens after that...The role of Chirag Paswan has been clear from the beginning - he believes in the PM of the country...Bihar too will go ahead under his (PM's) leadership."
'Nitish Called Meeting of 18 Oppn Parties; We Assumed He'll Fight BJP Till the End': Jairam Ramesh
On the current political situation in Bihar, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, "... Nitish Kumar called the first meeting of 18 opposition parties in Patna on 23rd June 2023. The second meeting was held in Bengaluru on 17th-18th July 2023. Then again on 31st August-1st September in Mumbai. Nitish Kumar played a prominent role in all three meetings, so we were considering Nitish Kumar to fight the BJP and its ideology till the very end..."
All JD(U) Leaders Authorise Nitish Kumar To Take Any Decision
At the meeting of the party leaders in Patna, all JD(U) leaders authorised CM and party president Nitish Kumar to take any decision, news agency ANI has reported.
Nitish Arrives at Raj Bhavan in Patna
Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar arrives at the Raj Bhavan in Patna, news agency ANI has reported.
Breaking News: Nitish Kumar Resigns As Chief Minister
Breaking News: Nitish Kumar resigned as the chief minister of Bihar on 28 January. Kumar submitted his resignation to Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan in Patna on Sunday.
As per news agency ANI, Kumar told Guv Arlekar, "We have decided to sever ties with the mahagathbandhan in the state."
'INDIA Alliance in Distress, Talks With NDA Scheduled, Decision to be Made Today:' Nitish Kumar
After stepping down from the post of Bihar's chief minister, Nitish Kumar told reporters, "I have resigned as the CM and given a letter to the governor to dissolve government. There was suggestions from all leaders to resign. I had issues, that's why I resigned. I had left the previous alliance and made a new one but I saw that the situation here was not good. So the suggestion (to step down) was coming from all sides."
Taking a dig at the recently-formed alliance of Opposition parties called INDIA, Kumar said that it was "in distress." He said that there were problems in Bihar too.
"There are parties of the previous alliance (NDA) with whom talks are scheduled. A decision will be made today," Kumar told reporters.
'Knew This Would Happen': Mallikarjun Kharge
Addressing the media, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party was aware of the development.
"There are many people in the country like 'Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram'. When I talked to Lalu Ji and Tejashwi, they also said that Nitish is going. If he wanted to stay, he would have stayed but he wants to go, nobody can stop him. That's why we already knew this, but to keep the India Alliance intact, if we say something wrong, the wrong message will be sent. This information was already given to us by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. Today that came true. There are many people in the country like 'Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram'," Kharge said.
Samrat Chaudhary Chosen the BJP CLP Leader
BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary has been chosen as the CLP leader. Chaudhary, along with BJP leader Vijay Sinha are likely to be chosen the deputy chief ministers, reports said.
"BJP did a historic thing for my life...This is an emotional moment for me to have been elected as the Leader of the Legislative Party to be a part of the government...The mandate that we received in 2020 for the development of Bihar and to end the terror of Lalu Yadav - when the BJP received the proposal from Nitish Kumar to ensure that there is no jungle raj in Bihar and Sanjay Jha came here as his ambassador, we decided to support it," Chaudhary said while addressing the media in Patna on Sunday.
'Had Issues with RJD But Congress is Responsible': JDU KC Tyagi
"There were issues with RJD locally but the INDIA alliance will fall due to the Congress's adamant attitude. They will not be able to ally with AAP, TMC and they will face issues in Maharashtra. After the meeting in Patna, they vanished for four months. Same happened after the Mumbai and Bengaluru meetings," said JDU leader KC Tyagi.
"They floated Kharge's name for PM by taking suppport of Mamata and Kejriwal despite being decided that there will be no PM face," Tyagi said, adding that "the Congress is only aiming to strengthen itself and not the INDIA bloc," he said.
'You Shall Have No Place Left': Tej Pratap Yadav
RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav took a jibe on Nitish Kumar's resignation in a tweet.
BJP Leaders Meet Nitish Kumar to Extend Support
Bihar BJP leaders met Nitish Kumar to extend a letter of support.
Kumar is enroute to Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form government with the BJP.
'NDA Will Register Hisrotic Win in Lok Sabha': BJP
Patna BJP MP and former Union Minister Ravis Shankar Prasad said that the NDA will register a historic victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"If the main man (Nitish Kumar) behind this alliance says so, then there was no future (for INDIA alliance). There is no vacancy for the Prime Ministerial post. BJP will have a historic win in Lok Sabha polls and in Bihar we will win the whole 40 seats," Prasad said.
'RJD-JDU Alliance Was Unnatural': Former Dy CM Sushil Modi
"We welcome Nitish Kumar's decision. We knew that the RJD-JDU alliance was an unnatural alliance and would not last long. We are happy and now JDU And BJP will together form the government. I hope that the new government will be formed in the next 2-3 hours," former Bihar deputy CM and BJP leader Sushil Modi told news agency ANI.
'Important Day for Bihar': Nityanand Rai
On Nitish Kumar joining NDA, Union Minister and BJP MP Nityanand Rai told news agency ANI: "Today is an important day for Bihar... Now Bihar will move forward on the path of development and we will win all 40 Lok Sabha seats of Bihar and PM Modi will be elected PM for the third time."
'Nitish's Exit Won't Affect INDIA Bloc': Congress
Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said that Nitish Kumar's exit will not affect the INDIA bloc.
"This will not have any impact on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. INDIA bloc will be further strengthened, Mamata Banerjee has herself said this. This (Nitish Kumar's resignation) will further upset people and I think people of Bihar will teach the right lesson to Nitish Kumar and the BJP in the election," Ramesh said while addressing the media.
"I agree that this will be in the headlines for a day or two, it doesn't look good that Nitish Kumar had called the first meeting (of INDIA Alliance) in Patna...he attended all meetings. But like I said, Nitish Kumar gives a tough competition to chameleons," he added.
Nitish Should be Honoured With 'Girgit Ratna': Tej Pratap Yadav
RJD leader, taking a jibe on Nitish Kumar and calling him 'Paltis Kumar', wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):
'Farewell RJD', Says BJP Leader Vijay Sinha
BJP leader Vijay Sinha, who is likely set to take oath as Bihar Deputy CM, says, "We are determined to re-establish good governance by giving a farewell to RJD."
'We are Lalu Yadav's Soldiers': RJD Leader Vijay Kumar Singh
RJD MLA Vijay Kumar Singh says, "There is no need to worry because we are a strong opposition and we are the largest party and will fight the government strongly. We are Lalu Yadav's soldiers."
'Nitish, Tejashwi, PM Modi Should Apologise To People of Bihar': Owaisi
Following Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's resignation, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "Regarding the political changes happening in Bihar, Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, and PM Modi should apologise to the people of Bihar. All of them have deceived people with promises and their parties' ideologies. And Nitish Kumar has the biggest role in this. Till yesterday, Nitish Kumar used to say Owaisi is the B team (of BJP)."
'Absence of Seriousness in INDIA Alliance': JD(U) Leader Neeraj Kumar
JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar says, "We are going to form a new government with BJP and HAM. For those who were claiming that it wouldn't be easy this time - we submitted a letter of support by 128 MLAs, at the Raj Bhavan. CM will be sworn in as a 9th-time CM...We made this decision due to the absence of seriousness in INDIA Alliance...INDIA Alliance has died an untimely death in politics. Their story is finished..."
BJP Chief JP Nadda Leaves For Patna
BJP chief JP Nadda leaves from his Delhi residence for Patna.
'Congress Played a Big Role in Nitish Joining NDA': BSP MP
Following Nitish Kumar's resignation, BSP MP Malook Nagar says, "Congress played a big role behind the formation of BJP govts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, same thing has happened with Nitish Kumar as well. In 2024, if BJP govt comes to power, Congress will be responsible. In Bihar, there was an open fight and Congress couldn't handle Nitish Kumar because of which, like last time, the result of Bihar will come out in the favour of BJP."
'Tejashwi Yadav Only Thought About His Family': BJP Leader
With JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar set to join hands with the NDA on Sunday, BJP leader Nitin Navin says, "He (Tejashwi Yadav) only thought about his family and party and kept the youth of Bihar unemployed...The oath ceremony will be held today at 5 pm."
'Law & Order Deteriorated Under Mahagathbandan Govt'
Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party MP Prince Raj says, "We welcome Nitish Kumar, and also congratulate the people of Bihar. The law and order situation in Bihar had deteriorated under the 'mahagathbandhan' government and 'jungle raj 2.0' could be seen. The situation that changed in Bihar was because of miscommunication and misunderstanding. Better late than never, things have been sorted out."
'Nitish Becoming Subject of Mockery': Pawan Khera
After Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar CM and is set to join hands with the NDA, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "Someone who has to leave has to say something or the other. It is not easy to live with one's conscience after taking such a step. If you are doing this for the 9th time, the conscience probably left you long back. He can say whatever he wants. Nitish Kumar could have had his name registered in history in a good manner but think about what situation he has brought himself in. He is becoming a subject of mockery in every household. Now, it is his desire if he wants to a subject of mockery."
'Sardar of Palturams': Prashant Kishor on Nitish Kumar
Political strategist Prashant Kishor says, "If you look back at my remarks over the past one year, then you would find out that I was the only person who on camera said that Nitish Kumar can change his side anytime. People already know that Nitish Kumar is a 'palturam' and 'sardar of palturams'. However, today's incident has shown that all politicians in Bihar are also 'palturam'."
KC Tragi is a Good Scriptwriter: Congress
On KC Tyagi blaming Congress for a rift in INDIA bloc, Congress leader Pawan Khera told news agency ANI: "KC Tyagi is my elder brother. Tell him that Nitish Kumar has switched sides once again and see how he comes up with new dialogues. He is a good scriptwriter and writes good dialogues."
Analysis | Nitish Kumar Re-Joins NDA: 4 Big Reasons Why This Will Harm INDIA Bloc
Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) chief's decision to leave the INDIA bloc and join the BJP-led NDA is a major blow to the Opposition alliance.
INDIA bloc chairman and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that they "expected that Nitish would switch" and that his decision hasn't surprised them.
However, the impact of this change on the INDIA bloc's prospects cannot be ignored.
There are four fundamental reasons why Nitish Kumar's exit is a major blow for the INDIA bloc in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Bihar Was Central to INDIA's Arithmetic
Nitish Was the Face of INDIA Bloc's Caste Census Plank
Nitish Initiated the INDIA Bloc
It Will Add to the Perception of PM Modi's Invincibility
Read the full analysis HERE.
'JD(U) Will be Over in 2024': Tejashwi Yadav
Former deputy CM and RJD leader said that Nitish Kumar could not see the RJD performing well in the alliance.
"People said that he (Nitish) did not work. We made him work. People called him a 'thaka hua' CM. He doesn't understand what he is talking. There is no anger or disappointment in the RJD. We worked well in the Mahagathbandhan. I just want to say that the game is still on. I do what I say. I wil not make personal comments but the JD(U) will be finished in 2024. Whatever they do, the people are with us. We thank the BJP and congratulate them," Yadav told news agency ANI.
"We enhanced education secror, provided quality of education, healthcare, employment, increased income of people. He thought how could a youg deputy CM do so much in 17 months what he could not do in 17 years?" Yadav added.
JP Nadda Arrives in Patna
BJP chief JP Nadda reached Patna to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new government.
Nitish Kumar Arrives at Raj Bhavan
Nitish Kumar reaches Raj Bhavan in Patna ahead of oath-taking ceremony.
Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as CM
Sealing his return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) leader Nitish Kumar on Sunday, 28 January, took oath as the chief minister for the ninth time, hours after he resigned from the post to walk out of the Mahagathbandhan alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the INDIA bloc.
Samrat Chaudhary, Vijay Sinha Take Oath as Deputy CMs
BJP leaders Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha took oath as deputy chief ministers.
Nitish Kumar's New Cabinet of 8 Ministers
The leaders who took oath along with Nitish Kumar include:
Samrat Chaudhary (BJP)
Vijay Sinha (BJP)
Prem Kumar (BJP)
Vijendra Yadav (JD(U))
Vijay Chaudhary (JD(U))
Sharavan Kumar (JD(U))
Sumit Singh (Independent)
Santosh Suman (HAM)
'Kept Us, Lalu Yadav in the Dark': Congress Chief Malliarjun Kharge
Speaking to ANI, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said: "It is clear that there were attempts to break the INDIA alliance. No such decisions happen so quickly. Do these things happen in 1-2 days? They must have held talks before, made all decisions before. They kept us and Lalu ji in the dark. Lalu Prasad had told me five days ago that he will quit but we have to keep fighting."
PM Modi Congratulates Nitish Kumar
Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted: "The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfill the aspirations of its people. I congratulate Nitish ji as Chief Minister and Samrat Chaudhary ji and Vijay Sinha ji on taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. I am confident that this team will serve my family members of the state with full dedication."
Nitish Kumar Addresses Media After Oath
Addressing the media after the ceremony, Nitish Kumar said: "I was always with the NDA, I just moved away for a while in between."
"Eight ministers have taken oath along with me. Rest will follow," said Kumar, adding that "Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha will be the deputy chief ministers.
Reacting to Tejashwi Yadav's comments on the development: "We are doing development work for Bihar. We will keep at it," he added.
'INDI Alliance is Unholy, Unscientific': JP Nadda
BJP national president JP Nadda, taking a jibe at the INDIA alliance, says, "We had said that INDI alliance is an unholy, unscientific alliance and it will not work. 'Anaya Yatra', 'Bharat Todo Yatra' and the INDI Alliance have failed conceptually. INDI alliance formed to protect family and properties and is a group of corrupt people and promotes appeasement..."
'NDA Will Win All 40 Seats of Bihar': Chirag Paswan
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan says, "It is a matter of happiness that Bihar has now got the NDA government...Looking at the current situation, I can say that NDA will win all 40 seats of Bihar."
'NDA Govt Will Establish Good Governance': Vijay Sinha
Deputy CM of Bihar, Vijay Kumar Sinha, who took oath on Sunday evening, told mediapersons, "I thank our party leadership, especially PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister and National President, for showing confidence in me...The NDA government will establish good governance and there will be development." '
'There Was Pressure on Nitish Kumar in Mahagathbandan': HAM Chief
Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Dr Santosh Kumar Suman says, "Now I have got a chance to serve the public again. I thank PM Modi, CM Nitish Kumar, Jitan Ram Manjhi and all those who considered me capable of serving my state and the people of Bihar... (RJD-JDU) alliance was not pure, there was pressure on Nitish Kumar and he was not able to work there... He took a good decision and joined NDA...Now there will be good governance and development in Bihar..."
'Gratitude To PM Modi': Nitish Kumar Tweets
Hours after joining hands with the NDA, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar took to social media platform X to thank PM Modi.
'Nitish Was Playing a Role Against BJP, Don't Know What Happened Suddenly': Sharad Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar says, "Whatever happened in Patna, such a situation was never seen before in such a short period of time...I remember it was Nitish Kumar who had called all the non-BJP parties to Patna...His role was also similar but what happened in the last 10-15 days that he left this ideology and today he joined BJP and formed the government...In the last 10 days, it did not seem that he would take such a step. On the contrary, he was playing a role against BJP. Don't know what happened suddenly, but the public will definitely teach him a lesson for his role in future..."
Watch: Nitish Kumar's 9th Oath as Bihar CM, JD(U) Leader Returns to NDA
Chirag Paswan Congratulates New Govt in Bihar
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan says, “Now we will be able to implement the thoughts of PM Modi on the ground (for development of Bihar). We will be able to implement his idea, and it is a matter of pleasure for us. I congratulate the new government.”
'Nitish Kumar, One of The Most Unreliable Leaders': Bhupesh Baghel
“Nitish Kumar is one of the most unreliable leaders. He himself initiated INDIA alliance and has now sat in the lap of those, against whom he used to campaign. It is beyond my understanding whether he has morality left or not,” says former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.