Nitish Kumar to jump ship right before elections?
Amidst indications of discord between JD(U) and RJD, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held an impromptu meeting with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Tuesday.
This development occurred against a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the planned joint rally of the JD(U) chief and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as part of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the state.
The meeting extended for nearly 40 minutes, with Nitish being accompanied by senior JD(U) leader and state finance minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary. He left for his official residence without entertaining media queries.
The meeting has given rise to the speculation that Kumar might abandon the ‘Mahagathbanthan’ in the state and return to the NDA fold, which also means that he would split from the INDIA alliance.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, the former Bihar chief minister who was formerly associated with the JD(U), heightened the intrigue with his enigmatic post “Khela Hobe” following Nitish Kumar’s meeting with the governor.
Nitish Kumar, a foundational leader of the opposition INDIA bloc, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress regarding the pace of seat-sharing negotiations and is reportedly displeased over him not being made the chairperson, and hence, the prime ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc (which went to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge), not accepting the post of convenor which was offered as a sop.
