Speculations rife on Nitish Kumars return to NDA after Maharashtra political shake-up

Bihar Politics: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharastra gripped with crisis as party leader Ajit Pawar broke ranks and took oath as deputy chief minister of the State. (Bihar Politics) The development came as a big setback for Sharad Pawar, raising a speculation about whether a similar situation could unfold in Bihar with Janta dal United (JDU) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returning to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar suddenly called a meeting of the legislators. After the meeting was over, he reached Raj Bhavan and then took oath as Deputy CM. Along with him, 8 other MLAs of the party also took the oath of office. Ajit’s move definitely seems to be weakening the efforts of his uncle Sharad Pawar in which he is engaged in connecting the opposition for the 2024 general elections.

After the sudden development in the politics of Maharashtra, speculations started that whether a political crisis like Maharashtra is going to come in Bihar too, or it can happen anytime. Are Janata Dal United (JDU) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar preparing to return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)?

Actually, if we look at the events of the last three-four days in Bihar, many such incidents have happened politically which are telling that there is some ‘crisis’. Since then there is speculation that Nitish Kumar may once again return to the NDA. What is the reason for such speculation? Let’s try to understand it.

Amit Shah softens stand on Nitish Kumar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has visited Bihar 5 times in the last 10 months, ever since Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP (JDU broke away from the BJP in August last year and joined hands with the Grand Alliance). Every time Amit Shah criticized Nitish Kumar while addressing the public meeting and said that the doors of BJP are permanently closed for Nitish Babu.

Interestingly, on June 29, when Amit Shah visited Lakhisarai in Bihar and addressed a public meeting, he did not make a single comment regarding Nitish Kumar or even repeat his earlier remark that the BJP The doors are closed for Nitish Babu.

In contrast, Amit Shah attempted to rouse Nitish Kumar’s conscience by exposing corruption and questioning his alliance with individuals facing charges of scams worth over Rs 20 lakh crore.

Speculation started after Amit Shah’s soft stance

After Amit Shah’s soft stand, speculation is rife in Bihar’s political circles that the BJP may once again use corruption as a focal point to woo Nitish Kumar in its fold. This is because in 2017, BJP leveled corruption charges against Tejashwi Yadav, after which Nitish Kumar listened to his conscience and broke ties with RJD and formed an alliance with BJP.

The names of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members have cropped up in the job-for-land scam and the IRCTC scam and in both the cases, the investigating agencies have acted swiftly. There is also speculation that if Tejashwi Yadav is arrested in the coming days, it may become a compulsion for Nitish Kumar to walk away from the Grand Alliance. Please tell that Tejashwi Yadav has appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the land-for-job scam.

Nitish Kumar did one-to-one meeting

Nitish Kumar’s one-on-one meeting with his party’s MLAs has also grabbed everyone’s attention, keeping suspense on his next move. Please tell that when Amit Shah visited Lakhisarai, Nitish Kumar started holding one-to-one meetings with all his MLAs two days before Shah’s visit. During these meetings, Nitish Kumar inquired from his MLAs about the issues and challenges faced by their respective constituencies and also urged them to share the problems faced by them.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar is also stressing on the need for unity among his MLAs and assuring them that he is with them and will continue to support them. Personal meetings with his MLAs have also led to speculation that Nitish Kumar apparently fears a split within his party. If sources are to be believed, he is trying to gauge the sentiments of his MLAs and is urging them to remain united.

There is also speculation that Nitish Kumar is considering a change in his political approach in the near future, which is why he is urging his MLAs to remain united.

 

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