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Nitish Kumar on Saturday hinted towards staying with BJP-led NDA and said, “We will always stay together and will develop the country along with Bihar.”
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (Image: ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday maintained that he “made a mistake twice” in the past by joining hands with the RJD and said he would now stay with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Bihar Chief Minister’s statement came amid the ongoing speculations regarding a possible “tie-up” between his party JD(U) and the Mahagathbandhan ahead of the Bihar polls following Lalu Prasad’s “doors open for Nitish” remark.
Addressing a review meeting, Nitish Kumar said, “The people of Bihar gave us a chance to work from November 24, 2005. Since then, we have been continuously working for the development of the state. Before 2005, Bihar’s condition was very bad. People were afraid to leave their houses after evening, there was no arrangement for treatment in hospitals, the roads were dilapidated.”
“When the people of Bihar gave us a chance to work, the condition of the state changed. We went here and there by mistake twice. But now we will always stay together and will develop the country along with Bihar,” the Chief Minister added.
RJD’s Invitation To Nitish
In an interview with a YouTube channel, RJD supremo Lalu Yadav had remarked that “doors are open” for Nitish Kumar to rejoin the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan).
During the interview, Lalu said, “Nitish Kumar can join us and work together.” He reiterated that his doors remain open for both the public and Nitish Kumar. Should Nitish decide to return, Lalu emphasised that there would be no issues in working together again.
However, Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu’s son, downplayed his father’s comments, saying, “You keep asking him this; what else would he say? He said this just to calm you all down.” He dismissed the remarks as an attempt to satisfy media curiosity.
Nitish Joins NDA Back
Ahead of Lok Sabha elections in 2024, Nitish Kumar shocked many by leaving the Mahagathbandhan and rejoining the NDA. Kumar took oath as Chief Minister for a record ninth time, and the third time since the 2020 assembly polls. The 72-year-old leader indicated that he was not feeling happy with the way things were in the Mahagathbandhan in the state as well as the INDIA bloc that he helped take shape but which failed to adequately recognise his efforts.
In February 2024, he had mentioned that he went “idhar udhar” (here and there) but now he has again come to National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and will stay permanently with NDA.
While speaking to media, he jokingly said, “I have already told you that we (BJP-JDU) were together earlier. Twice in the middle, I went “idhar udhar.” But now, once again I have come “udhar” (to the NDA),” he said, adding, “I will permanently be there now.”
Bihar is preparing for assembly elections later this year, and as the election season draws closer, political circles are abuzz with statements and counter-statements from key leaders.
(With inputs from agencies)
