Political Turmoil in Bihar: Nitish Kumar Likely to Switch Allegiances on Sunday, Parties Go Into Huddle

Nitish Kumar is poised to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the ninth time on Sunday, receiving support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his on-again-off-again ally. The political landscape in the state is undergoing a significant shift as this development unfolds. In return for its backing, the BJP is set to secure two Deputy Chief Minister berths, echoing the arrangement established after the 2020 elections.

Nitish Kumar in JDU

Ahead of his swearing-in, Nitish Kumar has convened a legislative party meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 10 am, according to sources. Concurrently, Bihar is witnessing a substantial transfer of district magistrates, fueling speculation about an imminent change in government. The Bihar government has transferred 22 IAS, 79 IPS, and 45 Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers, including five district magistrates (DMs) and 17 SPs.

Contrary to expectations, the Assembly will not be dissolved, and no immediate elections are anticipated, as per sources. With Bihar scheduled to vote next year, both parties seem content to await the opportune moment. The immediate focus for political strategizing will be on the Lok Sabha elections in April/May.

In preparation for the forthcoming developments, both the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) have called upon their respective MPs and MLAs to finalize the details of the alliance. Chief Minister Kumar, in a customary annual meeting, met with Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Republic Day for a tea party. Notably absent was Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, representing the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a coalition partner.

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RJD’s Manoj Jha has urged Nitish Kumar to provide clarity on his position—whether he intends to stay or step down—by the end of the day. Shivanand Tiwari, the party’s National Vice President, has implored Nitish to reconsider, stating that despite seeking an appointment, there has been no response from the JDU boss. Tiwari expressed skepticism about Nitish making a mistake again and alluded to the possibility of him reverting to his previous allegiances, highlighting the tumultuous political shifts in 2022 and 2017.