Another Somersault? Bihar CM Nitish Kumat Set To Dump Lalu & Join Forces With BJP Again

Patna: Politics in Bihar is all set to take another dramatic turn.

Relations between Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United (JDU), the key allies of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’, are on the verge of breaking down completely.

Hectic parleys have been taking place from Thursday night and continuing all day long.

If sources are to be believed, Nitish will be sworn in as chief minister of Bihar for a seventh time on Sunday with support from BJP. The JD(U) supremo has reportedly cancelled all his engagements for January 28, including a public meeting.

Once JD(U) pulls the plug, the Bihar Assembly is unlikely to be dissolved and elections won’t be held right now, NDTV reported.

With Bihar scheduled to go to polls in 2025, none of the parties are in a rush, especially with Lok Sabha elections round the corner. That will be the focus for the parties.

For its support, BJP is likely to get two deputy CM berths, which was the deal after 2020 election.

BJP’s state executive meeting has been called on January 27 and 28, ANI quoted sources as saying.

The JD(U) has also summoned its MPs and MLAs, even as Nitish met Governor Rajendra Arlekar for a Republic Day tea party.

Nitish, who has been nicknamed ‘paltu kumar’ by his critics for his love-hate relationship with BJP and RJD, last parted ways with the saffron party in 2022.