INDIA Rift: BJP, RJD Hold Meetings, Oppn Seeks Clarity Amid Nitish Exit Talks

Jairam Ramesh said that Congress President Kharge tried to talk to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar "several times."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@INCIndia)

As the opposition demands for clarity over political developments in Bihar, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi on Saturday, 27 January, said, "INDIA alliance is on the verge of breaking due to the irresponsible and obstinate attitude of Congress."

The statement comes amid speculation about JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar breaking the Congress-Rashrtiya Janata Dal-JD(U) alliance in the state, and join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Meanwhile, following a RJD meeting in Patna, MP Manoj Jha said, "A positive meeting was held. Discussion on several things was done. All the issues whether from the national or state level, everything were discussed during the meeting."

"It was a legislature meeting, Lalu Yadav, Dy CM (Tejashwi Yadav) all MLAs, everyone was present. We all have authorised Lalu Yadav to take the decision," he added.

The BJP also held a state executive committee meeting, which is underway in Patna and BJP Bihar President Samrat Chaudhary says, " Nitish Kumar has not resigned and nobody has withdrawn support, if something happens, then only we will have any information...BJP wants to know the situation of Bihar and then only we will take a decision..."

The Bihar Congress is slated to hold a similar meeting on Sunday, 28 January.

Reacting to reports about the same, Congress President Mallikarujun Kharge, on Saturday, asked for clarity regarding political developments in Bihar, said, "I don't have any information on JDU moving out of the INDIA alliance. What they have in mind is not clear."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh further added, "I can formally say that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar not just once, but several times. However, the Bihar CM is busy..."

Moreover, on Friday, RJD MP Manoj Jha also urged Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to “resolve the confusion” around the state’s mahagatbandhan, and clarify what his plan is.

“I request the CM to resolve this confusion by evening...all these questions over the alliance is causing disturbance in everyone’s lives. Everything is clear on our end, but the mahagatbandhan’s leader should clarify things, I request him with folded hands."

RJD MP Manoj Jha

Jha’s statement came around the same time that CM Kumar was attending an official event at Raj Bhavan in Patna, where notably, deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav was missing. While leaving, when Kumar was asked why Yadav wasn’t present in the meeting, the leader said “Ask those who did not come (jo nahin aaye unse puchhiye)”.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra says, "The people in power should end this situation of confusion and bring clarity...For us, Nitish ji is still a part of the INDIA alliance."

Where Did this Talk of Kumar's Exit Begin?

The speculation over Kumar's changing loyalties began when on Wednesday, the CM addressed a rally and spoke of socialist icon Karpoori Thakur, who earlier this week was conferred a Bharat Ratna posthumously.

While addressing the rally, Kumar criticised dynastic politics, saying the JD(U) followed the path shown by Thakur by not promoting anyone from their families in the party ranks.

The comment was seen as a potshot on RJD, an ally of the JD(U) in Bihar's Mahagathbandhan government, in which former CM Lalu Yadav's sons are ministers.

Lalu Yadav's younger son Tejashwi Yadav is the Deputy Chief Minister and the elder son Tej Pratap Yadav is a minister in the state cabinet. The RJD chief's eldest daughter Misa Bharti is a Rajya Sabha member.

Seeing Kumar’s statements as a personal attack, Lalu Yadav’s second daughter Rohini Acharya, took to social media to deliver a response.

Acharya wrote on X, "Often, people cannot see their own shortcomings but continue to throw mud at others with impudence... What outrage will there be when someone undeserving is given prominence? Who can question the method when there is deceit in one's own intentions?”

Acharya subsequently deleted the tweets, but it had cause quite a ripple in Bihar politics by then.

Bihar BJP leader Nikhil Anand stepped into the fray and asked Acharya to apologise for her words. “These are like an arrow released from the bow,” Anand wrote.

The BJP is coming to the defense of JD-U leader Nitish Kumar seemed to hint that there is something brewing between the two parties.

If it takes place, this will be Nitish Kumar's second "homecoming" to the NDA after parting ways, just before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, in 2013 and again in 2022, after winning state elections in 2020.

This will be his third divorce with the RDJ, a friend turned foe:

• The 1994 split to form the Samata Party

• Ditching the MGB (Mahagathbandhan) government in 2017 to join the NDA

• And the much anticipated 2024 return to the NDA just before the 2024 election