JD(U) national council meet ends: Rahul, Kejriwal, Yechury on his ‘Opp unity’ itinerary, Nitish arrives in Delhi today

Says will never ally with BJP again, rejoining NDA in 2017 was a mistake

JD(U) national council meet, JD(U) Nitish Kumar, BIhar CM Nitish Kumar, Nitish Kumar news, Rahul Gandhi

(PTI Photo)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said he would never have an alliance with the BJP now and going back to the NDA was a mistake. The Bihar CM would be leaving for a three-day visit to Delhi on Monday in his first bid towards the Opposition unity.

After the two-day JD(U) national executive and national council meet concluded here on Sunday, Nitish said all eastern states should demand special category status. The CM reiterated that the Centre kept denying Bihar’s demand for special category status despite JD(U) being part of the NDA for a long time.

A hoarding featuring Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, outside the party office in Patna, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. (PTI Photo)

JD(U) national spokesperson KC Tyagi told The Indian Express: “Nitish was very clear about not going back to BJP again and admitted that returning to NDA in 2017 was a mistake. He also talked at length on how BJP had been systematically trying to finish JD(U). He said senior BJP leaders like Rajendra Prasad Singh and Rameshwar Chaurasia contesting from LJP in 2020 polls amply proved that Chirag Paswan was a BJP ploy to damage us.”

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Tyagi, however, made it clear that the party had never talked about projecting Nitish in 2024 polls. “We have only authorised Nitish to work towards Opposition unity. He is going to Delhi on Monday on a three-day visit. He is likely to meet Rahul Gandhi, Sitaram Yechury and a few other leaders from the Opposition parties. Nitish ji has also got a few more invitations on which the party would respond in near future,” Tyagi said. Nitish is also expected to meet Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

The two-day JD (U) meet, which had participation of over 300 delegates, discussed circumstances that led to NDA split and Nitish’s role in national politics.

Meanwhile, the JD(U) also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would try to “trigger communal disturbances” during his tour of the state later this month.

Also Read | JD(U) national executive meet: A united Opposition can drive BJP out of power, says Nitish

JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, however, added that the people of Bihar were vigilant, and Shah would not be able to reap benefits for the BJP.

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“When Amit Shah ji will be here, he will try to trigger communal disturbances in Bihar and across the country. But, the people of Bihar are alert (‘satark’) and they (BJP) will not be able to cash in on communal polarisation,” Lalan said.

Shah is scheduled to visit Purnea and Kishanganj, both districts with high population of Muslims, on September 23-24. (With PTI inputs)

Santosh Singh

Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More

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