Is there suspense on Nitish Kumar’s face? Discussions of rift in NDA before Bihar elections

New Delhi: Bihar assembly elections are to be held next year and speculation has intensified regarding who will be with whom in the elections. Are the NDA allies together? Is Nitish Kumar angry and is everything going well in the alliance? These questions have been arising continuously for the last few days. However, the parties involved in NDA including BJP have said that Nitish Kumar will be the face of NDA in Bihar assembly elections. The absence of any BJP leader from participating in the Pragati Yatra of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also strengthened the discussion that everything is not smooth between BJP and JDU.

Speculation increased after Amit Shah’s statement

However, BJP and JDU leaders gave a statement clearly saying that there is no confusion of any kind in NDA nor is anyone angry with anyone. Even after a statement by BJP leader Amit Shah, speculations started about who would be the face of NDA in Bihar. Shah had said that the decision on whose face the next elections will be fought in Bihar will be taken in the meeting of BJP and JDU. However, soon after, a statement was issued by BJP state president and JDU leaders saying that Nitish will be the face of NDA. Even after the core committee meeting of Bihar BJP, a statement in this regard was issued by BJP.

BJP is the largest party in Maharashtra and Bihar also.

In fact, after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis became the CM and former CM Eknath Shinde became the Deputy CM in Maharashtra, comparisons between Maharashtra and Bihar started. In Bihar too, like Maharashtra, BJP is the largest party in the NDA. BJP leaders clearly said in informal conversations that the conditions of Maharashtra and Bihar are not the same. Therefore the equation from one place does not fit in another place.

JDU released poster

JDU released a poster on Sunday in which it was written – When it comes to Bihar, the name should be only of Nitish Kumar. The poster was released again on Monday and it was written that Nitish Kumar again in 2025. In the poster released by JDU on Tuesday, there is a photo of PM Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar together. It is written in it – United NDA united Bihar. On Monday, JDU said that Nitish means acceptance and on Tuesday, NDA said that it means developed Bihar. It was also told by BJP that after January 15, Nitish Kumar will address the district-wise joint meeting of NDA.

Do both need each other?

Both Nitish and BJP need each other in Bihar. Nitish is now completely out of the race for PM and has to do politics in Bihar only. People close to Nitish say that Nitish did not want interference from his/her allies in running the government and BJP has given him/her a free hand. BJP knows that they do not have any face in Bihar who is acceptable to all the communities.

Nitish himself comes from OBC but he/she is also accepted among the gold in the name of law and order. Also, Nitish has a strong hold among women voters. BJP leaders say in informal conversations that there is no threat or loss to BJP from Nitish. Living together is a win-win situation for both. When Nitish himself goes out of active politics, BJP will still be able to take advantage of his/her name and hence BJP does not want any sourness in the relations between itself and Nitish.