NEW DELHI: While swirling rumours relating to Bihar’s Chief Minister and JDU President Nitish Kumar doubtlessly severing ties with the RJD are afloat, insiders have revealed that the Lalu Yadav faction is meticulously strategizing to safe the mandatory 122 seats to proceed to rule the state even when the JDU exits the Mahagathbandhan.
Quest for Majority: RJD’s Strategic Moves
Should Nitish Kumar certainly withdraw from the coalition, the RJD should safe an extra eight MLAs to maintain its governance sans the JDU. To bridge this hole, the RJD is eyeing potential defections from Jitan Ram Manjhi’s faction, the AIMIM, and different impartial legislators.
Narrowing The Margin
Reports recommend that 4 floating MLAs from Manjhi’s group, together with a legislator from AIMIM and an impartial MLA, might align with the RJD, bringing the tally to 121, simply 1 shy of the required majority. Presently, the ruling alliance instructions 160 MLAs, with the RJD main with 79 seats. Notably, JDU holds 45, Congress 19, CPI-ML 12, CPI 2, CPI-M 2, and one impartial. In distinction, the opposition, comprising the BJP with 78 seats, Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) with 4 MLAs, and AIMIM with 1 MLA, stands poised to use any potential rifts.
Manjhi’s Prediction
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has forewarned of a rupture within the alliance, asserting that Nitish Kumar will sever ties with the RJD post-January 25. “Maine kaha tha khela hoga aur khela ho gaya (I had said that game will happen, it has happened),” he had mentioned whereas chatting with reporters. Again on Friday, Manjhi mentioned that the ruling Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) authorities is not going to final for lengthy.
The HAM president mentioned that by seeing the statements of his former ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, he had sensed earlier that there can be a change within the state. “Recently I had said that there would be a change in Bihar after January 20 and the basis of this was Nitish Kumar’s statement. He has said many things against RJD…On this basis, we said that the alliance would not work. Their alliance will not last for long. Nitish Kumar’s dream of becoming PM has been shattered… Therefore, after breaking the alliance, he may contest the Lok Sabha elections independently or join the other alliance,” Manjhi mentioned.
Manjhi’s assertions, coupled with Nitish Kumar’s latest statements, trace at a seismic shift in Bihar’s political panorama, doubtlessly paving the best way for realignments and impartial electoral bids.
A Fractured Alliance: Signs of Discontent
Echoing Manjhi’s sentiments, speculations over Nitish Kumar’s allegiances gained traction following his ascent to occasion presidency, intensifying after latest occasions, together with the Centre’s announcement of Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur. Nitish’s expressions of gratitude in direction of the Centre, juxtaposed with criticisms of dynastic politics, have fueled tensions inside the coalition, as evidenced by Rohini Acharya’s pointed tweets on X, swiftly deleted thereafter.
As Bihar braces for potential upheavals, the fragile equilibrium inside the ruling coalition hangs within the stability, with every maneuver and assertion holding the potential to reshape the state’s political trajectory.
