The power corridors in Patna are buzz with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s next move as speculations are rife that it could change the political landscape of the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
According to sources, Nitish is contemplating to dissolve the Bihar legislative assembly amid speculations of his rift with Lalu Yadav’s RJD.
He has reportedly summoned all his MLAs to Patna. The Bihar CM, according to sources, is likely to tender his resignation and then stake claim to form government with the help of the BJP and other NDA allies.
A parallel meeting of BJP functionaries is also being held in Delhi.
It is being said that after the new cabinet is formed, the Bihar CM will dissolve the assembly and seek fresh elections that may take place simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls later this year.
BJP’s Bihar in-charge Vinod Tavde has also reached Delhi where he is likely to hold a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
On the other hand, the RJD is said to be in talks with some of the JD(U) MLAs to switch sides. Besides, Yadav is also in contact with four MLAs from Jitan Ram Manjhi’s JAM, one from AIMIM and an independent.
The RJD, the Congress and the Left have 114 seats in the Bihar legislative assembly. They are just eight short of the majority mark of 122 seats.
It all started with Lallan Singh’s removal as JDU chief. When Singh stepped down as JDU president, several reports claimed that Nitish was not happy with his growing proximity with Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav.
According to sources, Nitish got a whiff of Lallan Singh and his deputy’s alleged coup d’état conspiracy and took direct control of the party.
The RJD is also upset with Nitish Kumar’s remarks on dynastic politics and praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the central government conferred Bharat Ratna on his mentor and former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur.
Lalu Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya in a now deleted post on ‘X’ also took an indirect dig at Nitish Kumar and used the term ‘badtameez’.
“Often, people cannot see their own shortcomings but continue to throw mud at others with impudence,” said Acharya.