Bihar JD(U) Chief Trashes Speculations About Nitish Kumar’s Return to NDA

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) clarified its allegiance to the INDIA coalition and dismissed speculations of a potential return to the BJP-led NDA. State JD(U) president Umesh Singh Kushwaha emphasized the stability of the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and urged the Congress, their alliance partner, to reflect on alliance dynamics and seat-sharing.

Kushwaha, addressing media rumours, stated, “All is well in Bihar’s ruling Mahagathbandhan, and the media speculations are driven by some agenda.” He refuted claims that party MLAs were instructed to rush to Patna and downplayed the significance of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav sitting apart at the Republic Day parade, asserting their commitment to the INDIA coalition.

While denying any plans to return to the NDA, Kushwaha stressed the need for the Congress to conduct introspection regarding its stance towards alliance partners and the timely finalization of seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The JD(U) leader’s statement coincided with opposition bloc INDIA partners TMC and AAP ruling out alliances with the Congress in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively. Responding to queries about social media posts by Lalu Prasad’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, criticizing Kumar, Kushwaha dismissed it, stating, “We take no notice of that because Rohini Acharya is not an RJD office-bearer.”

State Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh addressed the delay in seat-sharing within the INDIA bloc, questioning why similar queries were not raised about the BJP-led NDA, which also faces challenges in sorting out seat-sharing with its allies. Singh clarified, “Nitish Kumar is our leader in Bihar, and I have no idea from where rumours of his going back to the NDA have emanated.”