Bihar Politics highlights: ‘We will stay together,’ says Nitish after returning to NDA

On the current political situation in Bihar, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh says, "His (Nitish Kumar) political career is coming to an end. Whether he will join BJP or not, whether BJP will accept him or not, will be decided. We are just waiting to see how things unfold."

Amid political developments in Bihar, RJD Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav says, "Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav had together formed the mahagathbandhan government in Bihar...In line with its traits, BJP started taking interest in Bihar politics. It was drooling for power in the state and started conspiring for it. When the resignation (of Nitish Kumar) will take place, things will come out in the open."

JD(U) MLAs begin arriving at the residence of CM Nitish Kumar for a meeting.

An MLA says, "I don't know what the meeting is about. We will tell you whatever is discussed inside..."

MLA Ram Singh says, "Meetings are going on Lok Sabha elections. The decision that comes from the top will be implemented. JP Nadda is coming here...We will win all 40 seats..."

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde arrives at the Bihar BJP office in Patna. A meeting of party MLAs is taking place here.

The source told the news agency that Nitish Kumar is “likely to address a meeting of JD(U) legislators around 10am on Sunday before going to the Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation” and the formation of a new government, with the backing of the BJP, is “expected by the evening”.

It will be a second volte-face for Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in less than 18 months if he makes a return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in what would be considered a second such walkout on his incumbent alliance during his current term in the state assembly. In 2022, Kumar quit the NDA to form a government with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress in ‘mahagathbandhan' coalition, accusing the BJP of engineering a split in his party, Janata Dal (United). Read more

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to meet the Governor today, say sources.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has reportedly sought time to meet the Governor this morning and is likely to break away from the Mahagathbandhan government, per sources.

Although the Bihar CM is mum over his next move, speculations of a rift between Mahagathbandhan and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar joining the NDA, have been soaring high.

Notably, the Bhartiya Janata Party will also hold a meeting with its MLAs and MPs in Patna at 9 am today to chalk out the strategy over the latest political situation in the state.

On JD(U) leader KC Tyagi's statement for INDIA Alliance, party MLC Neeraj Kumar says, "...It is true that we were working in the INDIA Alliance for last 1.5 years. The meetings started from Patna...We were always active in the meetings and expressed our views. But (they said) "there is a lot of time", "do seat sharing discussions take place in haste?" - We will tell you about the power sharing."

JD(U) MLAs to have a meeting this morning, in Patna, reports ANI.

Nitish Kumar is likely to address a meeting of JD(U) legislators around 10 am today before going to Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation, news agency PTI reported quoting party sources.

BJP chief JP Nadda will be visiting Patna today as the JD(U) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to resign today. The state BJP unit has also convened a meeting today to discuss the developments.

The RJD, with 79 MLAs, is the single largest party in the Bihar assembly and part of the Mahagathbandhan, which also comprises the Congress and three Left parties. The Mahagathbandhan falls eight members short of the majority in the assembly if Nitish Kumar's JD(U) pulls out.

In New Delhi, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Saturday "strongly" raised his party's concerns and received "assurances" in a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda amid the strong buzz about Nitish Kumar rejoining hands with his former ally. Paswan told reporters he would first wait to see whether the JD(U) president joins the BJP-led alliance or not before finalising his party's stand on the matter. The son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan did not reveal what Shah and Nadda told him about political developments in the state.

Nitish Kumar is likely to end the suspense over his next political move by resigning as Bihar chief minister as early as Sunday morning and returning to his old ally NDA, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party – in a body blow to the Opposition bloc INDIA. A source close to Nitish Kumar told news agency PTI that the Janata Dal (United) president is poised to dump the Mahagathbandhan, which includes Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal, he had joined less than 18 months ago after breaking from the NDA. Read more

Amid reports that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may switch sides by pulling his party JD(U) out of the 'mahagathbandhan' in Bihar, BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal said that the INDI Alliance will break in Maharashtra too.

"INDI Alliance will break in Maharashtra too. This was a strategic posturing by the Congress to show that the party was solely standing against the BJP and PM Modi, and Rahul Gandhi was the only opposition," Agrawal said on Saturday

The opposition INDIA bloc was in the grip of a crisis on Saturday with the JD(U) saying the alliance was collapsing amid indications that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will switch back to the NDA, prompting the Congress to allege that the BJP is doing its best to cause a "mini implosion" in the coalition.

The Congress, however, also exuded confidence that both Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, being co-architects of the INDIA bloc, would remain a part of the alliance and said efforts were on by the Congress president to reach out to both of them.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sought time to meet the Governor in the first half today: Sources

Bihar’s ruling coalition appeared at breaking point on Friday with the Janata Dal (United), its ally Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party all corralling their lawmakers and calling meetings over the weekend as speculation about chief minister Nitish Kumar’s joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) reached fever pitch. Read more

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said he didn't have any information that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal (United) were breaking away from the INDIA bloc of the Opposition. Read more

According to ANI, Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said Nitish Kumar has always been respected by the RJD. "Many things are not under his (Nitish Kumar's) control," Tejashwi said. That the game is not yet over in Bihar was the consensus in the meeting, according to reports. RJD MLAs have been asked to remain in Patna and not to switch off their phones. Read more

At a time when Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav hinted at many unexpected developments in the state, state's Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hari Sahni said that it is certain that a 'game' will be played in Bihar.Speculations are rife that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may cross over to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), leading to the collapse of the 'Mahagathbandhan' government in the state.

"Has Tejaswi Yadav clarified anything yet? No, so if has not said anything about the ongoing speculations, how can I comment on it," Sahni told ANI in Bihar's Patna.

Amid the possibility of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar making yet another switch to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chhedi Paswan said that the JD(U) chief is 'coming for the post'.

Speaking to ANI, Paswan said that the leaders and workers of the party will be satisfied with the decision to be taken by the party's high command.

"...I had said earlier also that Nitish Kumar can go anywhere for the post. He is coming for the post.... If my party leaders are satisfied, then we are also satisfied," Chhedi Paswan said.

As the Congress party faces a crisis in its alliance with the INDIA bloc, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday took a jibe at its leadership, saying, see what happens next.

Thakur also said that the INDI alliance was meant to be scattered as the Congress failed to do justice to its allies.

"Those who could not do justice with their alliance parties, whose 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' showed more hatred, had to be scattered, who could not give respect and dignity, who could not decide how they would give justice. See what happens next." Union Minister said.

Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Samrat Choudhary on Sunday dismissed the speculations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar potentially rejoining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which could lead to the collapse of the 'Mahagathbandhan' government in Bihar, stating that the party high-command has 'no clue' about it.

Choudhary mentioned that as of now, Nitish Kumar has not resigned, and no one has withdrawn support. The BJP is reportedly assessing the situation in Bihar, and decisions will be made accordingly. Choudhary indicated that any information about Nitish Kumar's move would be known only if Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives such information.