Nitish Kumar walks away from NDA, joins hands with Grand Alliance

Patna: In a dramatic move, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday walked away from NDA and joined hands with Grand Alliance to form a new government in the state.

Sources said here that Chief Minister Kumar had taken a decision to walk away from NDA during the meeting of MPs and legislators of his party JD(U) convened by him at 1 Anne Marg, the official residence of Chief Minister. It is being said that all MPs and Legislators had unanimously supported the decision to snap ties with BJP and walk away from NDA.

JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh had told media persons before the meeting that there would be discussion in the wake of RCP episode. Former JD(U)president RCP Singh had resigned from the party on Saturday evening following a show cause notice issued to him by the party seeking explanations on amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income for the period from 2013 to 2022.

RCP Singh had resigned from the JD(U) alleging that some party leaders were constantly humiliating him and crossed all limits.

JD(U) president Singh had said that his party was no more prepared to tolerate Chirag model. RCP Singh was being prepared as Chirag model by BJP to damage JD(U) as had been done in 2020 Bihar assembly Elections, he had pointed out.

LJP MP Chirag Paswan despite claiming himself to be part of NDA, had put up candidates against JD(U) in 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections damaging its electoral prospect and brought down the JD(U) tally from 71 to 43 in 2020 Bihar Assembly Elections.

On the other hand, leader of the opposition Tejaswi Prasad Yadav had also convened meeting of Grand Alliance legislators comprising RJD, Congress CPI(ML), CPI and CPI(M). During the meeting, it was decided to support Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after he snapped ties with BJP in the changed political scenario.

Grand Alliance leaders are expected to accompany Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to extend required support letters to Governor when he would call on him at about 4 PM. Leader of the opposition Tejaswi Prasad Yadav and other leaders of Congress, CPI(ML), CPI(M)and CPI will call on governor along with Chief Minister Kumar.

As it is, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also snapped ties with BJP in 2013 when the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was declared as PM candidate of BJP for 2014 Lok Sabha election. BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi had emerged victorious in 2014 Lok Sabha elections along with its allies. After victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi had become Prime Minister.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had formed Grand Alliance after joining hands with RJD, Congress other other parties in Bihar. Grand Alliance emerged victorious under the leadership of Chief Minister Kumar in 2015 Bihar Assembly Elections. Grand Alliance government was formed in Bihar under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

In 2017, Chief Minister Kumar had again joined hands with BJP to form NDA government after deserting Grand Alliance in the state. Almost after five years, taking U turn, Chief Minister snapped ties with BJP and joined RJD to form a new government with support of other parties in grand alliance. (UNI)