Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s meeting earlier this week with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav to discuss the appointment of two information commissioners triggered speculation about him reopening communication channels with the Opposition camp. Putting an end to these rumours, the CM on Friday reassured the BJP that he would not repeat the mistake of joining hands with the RJD like he did in the past. He made the remarks after meeting Union Minister and BJP president J P Nadda who warmed up to the CM, first meeting him before sharing the stage with him. It was not the first time Nitish had clarified the JD(U)'s allegiance to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), especially given his history of flip-flops. In June, a day after the Lok Sabha election results, which left the BJP 32 short of a majority, a video of Nitish and Tejashwi taking the same flight to Delhi triggered speculation and forced clarifications from his party. Immediately after his latest re-entry into the NDA in January, Nitish had “vowed” not to return to the Mahagathbandhan, accusing the RJD leader of “not doing anything”. Nitish’s reaffirmation of his tie-up with the BJP is part of his now tried-and-tested twin-track politics of keeping the Opposition guessing. When in the Mahagathbandhan, the Bihar CM kept his communication channels with the BJP open as he had done with the RJD when he was in the NDA from 2017 to 2022. After his latest return to the NDA, he has stuck to his position on a nationwide caste census, an issue on which the BJP has struggled to frame its argument. BJP insiders expressed relief at Nitish’s “reassurance” and said the party had to tweak its strategy in the state when the Janata Dal (United) leader returned to the NDA. The party has reiterated that the Assembly polls in Bihar next year will be fought under Nitish’s leadership and has replaced Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary as the state unit chief, putting Dilip Jaiswal in charge as it feels projecting the former might have upset the CM. Though Choudhary continues to be the BJP’s floor leader in the Assembly, Jaiswal will now call the shots in key organisational matters, including candidate selection for the Assembly elections. “We have to redo our strategy but he (Nitish) continues to be the leading force in the state,” said a BJP leader. With Jan Suraaj founder and former political strategist Prashant Kishor’s entry into state politics looming large, the BJP is left with no option but to keep the JD(U) in good humour. Party leaders are unsure if Nitish will lean towards the RJD ahead of the Assembly polls to ensure bargaining power in seat-sharing talks or make yet another U-turn to increase his party’s longevity. “He (Nitish) will stay relevant till the 2025 polls for either combination. With Kishor in the fray, Bihar could see new political alignments,” said an RJD leader. The JD(U) too is banking on the fact that Nitish towers over most other leaders in state politics right now. “He has been a dominant force in Bihar politics for the past 20 years and will continue to remain so,” said a party leader.
