Patna: In a surprising turn of events, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) national president Nitish Kumar handed over his resignation to Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan in Patna on Sunday, signaling a potential shift in alliances.
The resignation comes amid widespread speculation that Nitish Kumar may be considering a return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), potentially ending the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ rule in the state.
The political landscape in Bihar saw rapid changes triggered by a social media post from Rohini Acharya, the daughter of former CM and RJD chief Lalu Yadav. In her post, she criticized the JD(U), saying that while the ‘socialist party’ styles itself as progressive, its ideology shifts with the changing wind patterns.In a subsequent post, she vowed to continue her fight against communal forces.
With 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly, the RJD holds 79, followed closely by the BJP with 78. The JD(U) has 45 seats, the Congress has 19, the CPI (M-L) holds 12, and both the CPI(M) and CPI have 2 seats each. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) has 4 seats. AIMIM and an Independent hold two seats collectively.
The political developments have broader implications for the INDI Alliance and the united opposition against NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Despite the involvement of national leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Nitish decided to exit the alliance due to the lingering unresolved dispute within the coalition. This backlash coincides with the Nyay Yatra, led by Rahul, set to enter Bihar today. JDU has blamed Congress for the current situation, stating that their irresponsible behavior has shattered the INDI Alliance, which is on the verege of disintegration.
Besides Bihar, the situation is similar in Punjab and Bengal. Key parties within the alliance have already expressed their dissatisfaction regarding seat-sharing. The Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh has also voiced concerns within the alliance.
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