News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Flags being imported from China for ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative, alleges Maharashtra Congress chief

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday claimed that tricolours were being imported from China for the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

    He was speaking in Buldhana district as part of the Azadi Gaurav Padyatra of the Congress.

    “A long struggle had to be waged to oust the tyrannical British rule. The country was united under the Congress flag and Congress’s idea of taking everyone together brought independence to this country. People who have not contributed anything in this freedom struggle are today running events in the name of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” Patole charged.

    Tricolours are being imported from China for this event, which is an insult to the freedom fighters and the national flag, the Congress leader claimed.

    Patole further said that when the country became independent, not even a needle was manufactured in the country, but under the visionary leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, India reached the pinnacle of progress.

    Former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi also successfully took India forward by driving development.

    After them, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh also implemented various development schemes in the country, he said.

    “Indiraji and Rajivji sacrificed (their lives) for the country. But today’s BJP government is selling the public companies that were created by the Congress and were the glory of the country. Schemes like ‘Agnipath’ are like rubbing salt into the wounds of the youth. Inflation, and unemployment have increased tremendously. People are being looted by imposing GST on grocery items as well,” the former MP added.

    “China is encroaching on our borders, but the prime minister is not talking about it. On the contrary, attention is being paid to how they get financial benefits by importing tricolour flags from China,” he said.

    Patole alleged that the BJP came to power through lies and it cheated the people of the country and forgotten the promises made to the people.

    Work will be done to expose the falsehood of the BJP by creating public awareness through this padayatra, he charged.

    Legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat participated in the Azadi Gaurav Padayatra in Dhule and Jalgaon districts.

    He met the families of freedom fighters at Krantibhumi Kapadne in Dhule district.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday claimed that tricolours were being imported from China for the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

    He was speaking in Buldhana district as part of the Azadi Gaurav Padyatra of the Congress.

    “A long struggle had to be waged to oust the tyrannical British rule. The country was united under the Congress flag and Congress’s idea of taking everyone together brought independence to this country. People who have not contributed anything in this freedom struggle are today running events in the name of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” Patole charged.

    Tricolours are being imported from China for this event, which is an insult to the freedom fighters and the national flag, the Congress leader claimed.

    Patole further said that when the country became independent, not even a needle was manufactured in the country, but under the visionary leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, India reached the pinnacle of progress.

    Former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi also successfully took India forward by driving development.

    After them, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh also implemented various development schemes in the country, he said.

    “Indiraji and Rajivji sacrificed (their lives) for the country. But today’s BJP government is selling the public companies that were created by the Congress and were the glory of the country. Schemes like ‘Agnipath’ are like rubbing salt into the wounds of the youth. Inflation, and unemployment have increased tremendously. People are being looted by imposing GST on grocery items as well,” the former MP added.

    “China is encroaching on our borders, but the prime minister is not talking about it. On the contrary, attention is being paid to how they get financial benefits by importing tricolour flags from China,” he said.

    Patole alleged that the BJP came to power through lies and it cheated the people of the country and forgotten the promises made to the people.

    Work will be done to expose the falsehood of the BJP by creating public awareness through this padayatra, he charged.

    Legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat participated in the Azadi Gaurav Padayatra in Dhule and Jalgaon districts.

    He met the families of freedom fighters at Krantibhumi Kapadne in Dhule district.

  • NDA government had shaky start in Bihar after BJP kept out old faces like Sushil Modi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The JD(U)-BJP government formed in Bihar after the 2020 assembly polls had a shaky start from the beginning after seasoned BJP leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi who had a “good bonding” with Nitish Kumar and “understood” coalition politics better were kept out, veteran leaders in the two parties said on Wednesday.

    Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi were compared with the hit cricket pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly in Bihar politics who had plied the NDA boat smoothly since 2005.

    But, after the coalition assumed power for the fourth time in 2020, the BJP kept Sushil Modi and some other senior leaders of the earlier NDA ministries out of the government and Bihar politics.

    Instead of Sushil Modi, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were nominated as deputy chief ministers in the last NDA government.

    Talking to PTI on Wednesday, a day after the breakdown of the alliance, senior state leaders of the two parties pointed to propping up of the “new set of leaders not having much political stature” and lack of communication for the failure to reconcile differences.

    The BJP leadership changed the entire set of BJP ministers like Sushil Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav, Prem Kumar and others who “bonded well with Nitish Kumar and had the understanding of the coalition”, a leader said.

    Sushil Modi, known in Bihar politics as “Chhota Modi” due to a similar surname as the prime minister, was later sent to Rajya Sabha.

    “The new set of leaders had no stature and control over their MLAs and the party. Many leaders made damaging comments against the state government from time to time.”

    “The new avatar of the NDA that rode back to power in 2020 was shaky from the beginning and there was weak communication link,” said a senior JD(U) leader on condition of anonymity.

    Another leader of Nitish Kumar’s party spoke on similar lines and claimed the new BJP leadership seemed to have an “ulterior design” and the JD(U) felt that it was being undermined.

    “Sushil Modi was a tall BJP leader who understood coalition politics better. During his time the party and the government moved in tandem.”

    “But, in the present arrangement the BJP ministers had no control over the party whose leaders frequently made damaging remarks against their own government providing an opportunity to rivals to target it,” he said.

    The JD (U) leader alleged that the BJP’s “propping up” of LJP leader Chirag Paswan against the JD(U) in 2020 assembly elections and the hostile statements of state BJP leaders left his party uneasy.

    “The RCP Singh episode was the latest in the series of sinister designs of the BJP in the Bihar NDA,” the two leaders alleged, adding “how much muck we can take?” The JD(U) leaders have been accusing the BJP of “using” former Union minister RCP Singh against the JD(U) “to repeat Maharashtra” in Bihar.

    In Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde mobilised a majority of the Shiv Sena MLAs and MPs and joined hands with the BJP, toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government recently.

    The BJP has rejected the charge, with Sushil Modi saying that it was impossible to form government in such a manner in the state in view of the strength of his party and the JD(U).

    However, a senior BJP leader referred to the “communication gap” since the new government was formed in 2020.

    “There was no proper coordination in this NDA ministry in Bihar. No one among our party in the state was in a position to speak boldly on an issue to the chief minister, a seasoned leader,” said the BJP leader who did not wish to be named.

    “Unlike in the previous NDA government in Bihar, in the present arrangement, there was a communication gap from the beginning,” the senior saffron party leader said.

    Besides, Sushil Modi, senior BJP leaders like Nand Kishore Yadav and Prem Kumar, a contemporary of Nitish Kumar in the Patna university politics who participated together in the Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan “Sampoorna Kranti” (total revolution) that led to fall of Congress government then, were not there in the latest NDA ministry.

    Nand Kishore Yadav, who had served as the BJP president and was among the top BJP ministers in the previous NDA ministries, was tipped to be the Speaker of the Bihar legislative assembly in 2020.

    The BJP central leadership, however, chose Vijay Sinha over the seven-time MLA from Patna Sahib.

    Sinha’s run-in with the chief minister in the assembly had hogged the media limelight for a long.

    “During earlier times, seasoned politicians like Sushil Modi knew where to speak and when to keep quiet.”

    “But, in the present set of BJP ministers and state party leadership this quality was missing. It was free for all to make comments which many a time put the coalition in poor light and provided ammunition to the rivals against the CM and the government,” said a JD(U) leader on the strained ties which finally gave away.

    During JD(U) MLAs’ meeting on Tuesday, many a legislator told the chief minister how the BJP leaders tried to “sabotage” them from the beginning, said a senior MLA, who was present at the CM’s residence before Kumar left for Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation as the NDA chief minister on Tuesday.

    They were also miffed at the “damage” caused to the party in the assembly polls after Chirag Paswan contested against the JD(U) candidates.

    NEW DELHI: The JD(U)-BJP government formed in Bihar after the 2020 assembly polls had a shaky start from the beginning after seasoned BJP leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi who had a “good bonding” with Nitish Kumar and “understood” coalition politics better were kept out, veteran leaders in the two parties said on Wednesday.

    Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi were compared with the hit cricket pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly in Bihar politics who had plied the NDA boat smoothly since 2005.

    But, after the coalition assumed power for the fourth time in 2020, the BJP kept Sushil Modi and some other senior leaders of the earlier NDA ministries out of the government and Bihar politics.

    Instead of Sushil Modi, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi were nominated as deputy chief ministers in the last NDA government.

    Talking to PTI on Wednesday, a day after the breakdown of the alliance, senior state leaders of the two parties pointed to propping up of the “new set of leaders not having much political stature” and lack of communication for the failure to reconcile differences.

    The BJP leadership changed the entire set of BJP ministers like Sushil Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav, Prem Kumar and others who “bonded well with Nitish Kumar and had the understanding of the coalition”, a leader said.

    Sushil Modi, known in Bihar politics as “Chhota Modi” due to a similar surname as the prime minister, was later sent to Rajya Sabha.

    “The new set of leaders had no stature and control over their MLAs and the party. Many leaders made damaging comments against the state government from time to time.”

    “The new avatar of the NDA that rode back to power in 2020 was shaky from the beginning and there was weak communication link,” said a senior JD(U) leader on condition of anonymity.

    Another leader of Nitish Kumar’s party spoke on similar lines and claimed the new BJP leadership seemed to have an “ulterior design” and the JD(U) felt that it was being undermined.

    “Sushil Modi was a tall BJP leader who understood coalition politics better. During his time the party and the government moved in tandem.”

    “But, in the present arrangement the BJP ministers had no control over the party whose leaders frequently made damaging remarks against their own government providing an opportunity to rivals to target it,” he said.

    The JD (U) leader alleged that the BJP’s “propping up” of LJP leader Chirag Paswan against the JD(U) in 2020 assembly elections and the hostile statements of state BJP leaders left his party uneasy.

    “The RCP Singh episode was the latest in the series of sinister designs of the BJP in the Bihar NDA,” the two leaders alleged, adding “how much muck we can take?” The JD(U) leaders have been accusing the BJP of “using” former Union minister RCP Singh against the JD(U) “to repeat Maharashtra” in Bihar.

    In Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde mobilised a majority of the Shiv Sena MLAs and MPs and joined hands with the BJP, toppling the Uddhav Thackeray government recently.

    The BJP has rejected the charge, with Sushil Modi saying that it was impossible to form government in such a manner in the state in view of the strength of his party and the JD(U).

    However, a senior BJP leader referred to the “communication gap” since the new government was formed in 2020.

    “There was no proper coordination in this NDA ministry in Bihar. No one among our party in the state was in a position to speak boldly on an issue to the chief minister, a seasoned leader,” said the BJP leader who did not wish to be named.

    “Unlike in the previous NDA government in Bihar, in the present arrangement, there was a communication gap from the beginning,” the senior saffron party leader said.

    Besides, Sushil Modi, senior BJP leaders like Nand Kishore Yadav and Prem Kumar, a contemporary of Nitish Kumar in the Patna university politics who participated together in the Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan “Sampoorna Kranti” (total revolution) that led to fall of Congress government then, were not there in the latest NDA ministry.

    Nand Kishore Yadav, who had served as the BJP president and was among the top BJP ministers in the previous NDA ministries, was tipped to be the Speaker of the Bihar legislative assembly in 2020.

    The BJP central leadership, however, chose Vijay Sinha over the seven-time MLA from Patna Sahib.

    Sinha’s run-in with the chief minister in the assembly had hogged the media limelight for a long.

    “During earlier times, seasoned politicians like Sushil Modi knew where to speak and when to keep quiet.”

    “But, in the present set of BJP ministers and state party leadership this quality was missing. It was free for all to make comments which many a time put the coalition in poor light and provided ammunition to the rivals against the CM and the government,” said a JD(U) leader on the strained ties which finally gave away.

    During JD(U) MLAs’ meeting on Tuesday, many a legislator told the chief minister how the BJP leaders tried to “sabotage” them from the beginning, said a senior MLA, who was present at the CM’s residence before Kumar left for Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation as the NDA chief minister on Tuesday.

    They were also miffed at the “damage” caused to the party in the assembly polls after Chirag Paswan contested against the JD(U) candidates.

  • Black magic can’t end your bad days, PM taunts Congress over price rise stir

    By PTI

    PANIPAT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a fresh broadside against Congress, terming its “black cloth” protest against price rise as ‘black magic’ that will not be able to win them the confidence of people again.

    After dedicating to the nation the Rs 900 crore-second generation ethanol plant at Panipat, Modi also said that freebies are a spoke in India’s effort to become self-reliant and also a burden on taxpayers.

    Without naming Congress, he said some people out of frustration resorted to black magic on August 5. “On August 5, we saw how some people tried to spread ‘black magic’. These people think that by wearing black clothes they can end their despondency. But they do not know that by engaging in witchcraft, black magic and superstition, they cannot earn the trust of people again,” Modi said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Democracy is dead in India’: Congress leaders choose black outfits to protest against price rise

    The Congress protested against price rise by wearing black clothes in Parliament and outside as part of a nationwide protest on August 5. “Some people think wearing black cloths can ward off their pessimism and negativity but they don’t know that they can resort to any such tactics but can’t win back people’s confidence,” he said.

    In an apparent reference to the Congress, Modi also said that “black magic cannot end your bad days”.

    The prime minister also attacked certain opposition parties for engaging in politics of freebies, saying such things would only do a disservice to the nation as it hampers investment in new technology. He said that if there is selfishness in politics, then anybody can even promise free petrol and diesel.

    “Such steps will amount to depriving our children of their due and prevent the country from becoming self sufficient. Such selfish policies will put more burden on honest tax payers of the country,” Modi said Those who promise freebies will never will able to find resources for investment in new technologies, he said.

    “This is not a right policy but misleading one; this is not in national interest but it is against the nation; this is not nation building but an effort to push back the country.”

    PANIPAT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a fresh broadside against Congress, terming its “black cloth” protest against price rise as ‘black magic’ that will not be able to win them the confidence of people again.

    After dedicating to the nation the Rs 900 crore-second generation ethanol plant at Panipat, Modi also said that freebies are a spoke in India’s effort to become self-reliant and also a burden on taxpayers.

    Without naming Congress, he said some people out of frustration resorted to black magic on August 5. “On August 5, we saw how some people tried to spread ‘black magic’. These people think that by wearing black clothes they can end their despondency. But they do not know that by engaging in witchcraft, black magic and superstition, they cannot earn the trust of people again,” Modi said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Democracy is dead in India’: Congress leaders choose black outfits to protest against price rise

    The Congress protested against price rise by wearing black clothes in Parliament and outside as part of a nationwide protest on August 5. “Some people think wearing black cloths can ward off their pessimism and negativity but they don’t know that they can resort to any such tactics but can’t win back people’s confidence,” he said.

    In an apparent reference to the Congress, Modi also said that “black magic cannot end your bad days”.

    The prime minister also attacked certain opposition parties for engaging in politics of freebies, saying such things would only do a disservice to the nation as it hampers investment in new technology. He said that if there is selfishness in politics, then anybody can even promise free petrol and diesel.

    “Such steps will amount to depriving our children of their due and prevent the country from becoming self sufficient. Such selfish policies will put more burden on honest tax payers of the country,” Modi said Those who promise freebies will never will able to find resources for investment in new technologies, he said.

    “This is not a right policy but misleading one; this is not in national interest but it is against the nation; this is not nation building but an effort to push back the country.”

  • Prophet remark row: SC clubs and transfers all FIRs against Nupur Sharma to Delhi Police

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday directed clubbing and transfer of all FIRs lodged across the country against suspended BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma to Delhi Police in connection with FIRs/complaints lodged against her in several states over her remark on the Prophet made during a TV debate show.

    A bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala also extended interim protection to Sharma till the probe is concluded by the Delhi police.

    The top court allowed Sharma to move Delhi High Court for quashing of FIRs lodged over her remark and said all future FIRs would also be transferred to Delhi Police for investigation.

    The apex said the FIRs will be probed by the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) of the Delhi Police.

    Sharma’s remark on the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday directed clubbing and transfer of all FIRs lodged across the country against suspended BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma to Delhi Police in connection with FIRs/complaints lodged against her in several states over her remark on the Prophet made during a TV debate show.

    A bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala also extended interim protection to Sharma till the probe is concluded by the Delhi police.

    The top court allowed Sharma to move Delhi High Court for quashing of FIRs lodged over her remark and said all future FIRs would also be transferred to Delhi Police for investigation.

    The apex said the FIRs will be probed by the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) of the Delhi Police.

    Sharma’s remark on the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.

  • Nitish was uncomfortable with BJP, claims Prashan Kishor

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not comfortable in the alliance with the BJP and that is why he moved from one political formation to the other.

    Kishor, once considered a close confidant of Kumar, said the impact of the political developments in Bihar will remain limited to the state at present. “They were unlikely to have an impact on the national level in the short-run,” he said.

    “From 2017 to 2022, he was with the BJP. But I never found him comfortable because of many reasons. He may have thought that let us experiment with Mahagatbandhan,” Kishor told television news channels in Patna.

    On reports that Kumar harbours prime ministerial ambitions, Kishor insisted the developments were strictly “Bihar-centric”. He said Bihar has seen six experiments in government formation since 2012-13 and Nitish Kumar has been a constant as the chief minister.

    “Since 2012-13, this is the sixth experiment as far as government formation is concerned. In all these six experiments, Nitish Kumar has remained the Chief Minister. And there has been no change in the situation in Bihar. I hope that the new government will do something good,” Kishor told Republic TV.

    Kishor told CNN News 18 that it will have to be seen whether the new government performs or not as the RJD and JD(U) have contradicting stances on a number of issues, including corruption.

    NEW DELHI: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not comfortable in the alliance with the BJP and that is why he moved from one political formation to the other.

    Kishor, once considered a close confidant of Kumar, said the impact of the political developments in Bihar will remain limited to the state at present. “They were unlikely to have an impact on the national level in the short-run,” he said.

    “From 2017 to 2022, he was with the BJP. But I never found him comfortable because of many reasons. He may have thought that let us experiment with Mahagatbandhan,” Kishor told television news channels in Patna.

    On reports that Kumar harbours prime ministerial ambitions, Kishor insisted the developments were strictly “Bihar-centric”. He said Bihar has seen six experiments in government formation since 2012-13 and Nitish Kumar has been a constant as the chief minister.

    “Since 2012-13, this is the sixth experiment as far as government formation is concerned. In all these six experiments, Nitish Kumar has remained the Chief Minister. And there has been no change in the situation in Bihar. I hope that the new government will do something good,” Kishor told Republic TV.

    Kishor told CNN News 18 that it will have to be seen whether the new government performs or not as the RJD and JD(U) have contradicting stances on a number of issues, including corruption.

  • BJP’s youth wing leader caught on camera assaulting ex-Army man, party expels concerned leader

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: A local leader of ruling BJP’s youth wing has been caught on camera ruthlessly assaulting an ex- serviceman inside the latter’s shop in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.

    While a criminal case has been lodged against the accused, the ruling party’s Rewa district unit has expelled the accused leader from the party.

    The incident happened when the ex-serviceman Dinesh Mishra was sitting inside his barber’s shop in Amahiya town of Rewa district at around 6.30 pm on Monday.

    “The Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Deendayal Division Rewa’s vice president Rituraj Chaturvedi alias Bachhcu along with aide Anurag Mishra entered my shop and started thrashing me and also ransacked property inside the shop. Entire act by the BJYM leader and his aide was recorded in the CCTV camera. In the past also, he has targeted me, but the police didn’t help me. What happened to me on Monday is actually an assault on the entire ex- Indian Army servicemen community,” the ex-serviceman Dinesh Mishra alleged on Tuesday.

    Just after the video of the incident went viral on Tuesday, the local police acted in the matter and lodged a case in the matter u/s 452, 294 and 323 IPC. The accused are being identified through the video and action will be initiated against them soon, ASP-Rewa Anil Sonkar said.

    “The matter pertains to an old rivalry between both sides. Action will be taken against the accused, no matter whoever they are,” the ASP said.

    He, however, denied that in the past the police hadn’t entertained any complaint from the ex-serviceman.

    Meanwhile, acting in the matter, the Rewa district BJP president Dr Ajay Singh expelled the concerned BJYM leader from the party with immediate effect.   

    BHOPAL: A local leader of ruling BJP’s youth wing has been caught on camera ruthlessly assaulting an ex- serviceman inside the latter’s shop in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh.

    While a criminal case has been lodged against the accused, the ruling party’s Rewa district unit has expelled the accused leader from the party.

    The incident happened when the ex-serviceman Dinesh Mishra was sitting inside his barber’s shop in Amahiya town of Rewa district at around 6.30 pm on Monday.

    “The Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Deendayal Division Rewa’s vice president Rituraj Chaturvedi alias Bachhcu along with aide Anurag Mishra entered my shop and started thrashing me and also ransacked property inside the shop. Entire act by the BJYM leader and his aide was recorded in the CCTV camera. In the past also, he has targeted me, but the police didn’t help me. What happened to me on Monday is actually an assault on the entire ex- Indian Army servicemen community,” the ex-serviceman Dinesh Mishra alleged on Tuesday.

    Just after the video of the incident went viral on Tuesday, the local police acted in the matter and lodged a case in the matter u/s 452, 294 and 323 IPC. The accused are being identified through the video and action will be initiated against them soon, ASP-Rewa Anil Sonkar said.

    “The matter pertains to an old rivalry between both sides. Action will be taken against the accused, no matter whoever they are,” the ASP said.

    He, however, denied that in the past the police hadn’t entertained any complaint from the ex-serviceman.

    Meanwhile, acting in the matter, the Rewa district BJP president Dr Ajay Singh expelled the concerned BJYM leader from the party with immediate effect.   

  • JDU back in Opposition front once again as Nitish changes boat, to take oath as Bihar CM for record eighth time

    Express News Service

    Nitish Kumar would be sworn in for the record eighth time as Bihar chief minister at 2 PM on Wednesday with support from a new set of allies – RJD, Congress and the Left parties – after he decided to break alliance with the BJP and resign as the head of a coalition government with that party.

    During the course of the day, Kumar met Governor Phagu Chauhan twice; first to resign as the chief minister of the JD(U)-BJP coalition government, and a second time to stake claim to form a government with the support of 164 MLAs belonging to seven parties, including the RJD, Congress and the Left.

    Kumar gave a list of supporting MLAs to the Governor. The Governor invited him to form a new government on Wednesday.

    After putting in his paper as the chief minister, Nitish Kumar drove straight to former chief minister Rabri Devi’s house to discuss the formation of a new government with Rabri’s son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Discussions were also held with leaders of the Congress and Left parties.

    The decision to break the alliance with the BJP was taken at a meeting of JD(U) MPs and MLAs at Patna.

    Party leaders said that the chief minister had received reports that their coalition partner BJP was attempting to break the JD(U) MLAs to form a government minus Nitish Kumar.

    “Our leader Nitish Kumar has nipped the BJP’s ‘Operation Kamal’ in the bud. It was the chief minister’s alacrity that prevented the BJP from seizing power by breaking the JD(U) legislature party,” said a senior JD(U) leader.

    ALSO READ | Bihar developments: Deve Gowda expresses hope of Janata Dal Parivar re-emergence

    The first indication of JD(U)-BJP relations going irreconcilably bad came on Monday when the JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh lashed out at the BJP for breaching the coalition dharma by trying to defeat JD(U) candidates by using what he termed as the “Chirag model” where candidates belonging to Ramvilas Paswan’s son Chirag Paswan’s party were reportedly sponsored by the BJP against JD(U) candidates.

    Singh said the JD(U) survived that attack “but a fresh attempt is being made to damage our party.” JD(U) leaders said that the BJP was using former Union minister RCP Singh to split the JD(U).

    Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal accused Nitish Kumar of betraying the mandate of the 2020 assembly polls, and claimed that he will be “punished by the people of Bihar”.

    Kumar’s move was a reversal of his flip in 2017 when he left the Mahagathbandhan to rejoin the NDA.

    He had earlier deserted the NDA in 2013 after Narendra Modi was declared the Prime Ministerial candidate. This is the second time Nitish has left the BJP out in the cold in the last nine years.

    The Bihar assembly has an effective strength of 242 MLAs. The new coalition requires 121 MLAs for a majority.

    ALSO READ | Nitish’s volte-face with NDA: BJP suffers setback in Bihar but sees opportunity to grow

    The RJD has the highest number of 79 MLAs followed by the BJP (77) and the JD(U) with 44. The JD(U) also enjoys the support of four MLAs of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and one Independent.

    The Congress has 19 MLAs while the CPIML(L) has 12 and CPI and CPI(M) have two each. Besides, one MLA belongs to Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM.

    The political development in Bihar would have a big impact on the next Lok Sabha elections. CPIML(L) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said that with the new alignment of forces in Bihar, the state, which sends 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha, would be the main battleground in the 2024 general elections. The BJP-JD(U) alliance had won 39 out of the 40 seats in the 2019 elections.

    Bhattacharya said the BJP always had a dim view of its allies. He said BJP president J P Nadda’s recent statement that “regional parties have no future” reflects the party’s views.

    Tejashwi Yadav said history shows that the BJP has destroyed all its allies.

    Nitish Kumar would be sworn in for the record eighth time as Bihar chief minister at 2 PM on Wednesday with support from a new set of allies – RJD, Congress and the Left parties – after he decided to break alliance with the BJP and resign as the head of a coalition government with that party.

    During the course of the day, Kumar met Governor Phagu Chauhan twice; first to resign as the chief minister of the JD(U)-BJP coalition government, and a second time to stake claim to form a government with the support of 164 MLAs belonging to seven parties, including the RJD, Congress and the Left.

    Kumar gave a list of supporting MLAs to the Governor. The Governor invited him to form a new government on Wednesday.

    After putting in his paper as the chief minister, Nitish Kumar drove straight to former chief minister Rabri Devi’s house to discuss the formation of a new government with Rabri’s son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Discussions were also held with leaders of the Congress and Left parties.

    The decision to break the alliance with the BJP was taken at a meeting of JD(U) MPs and MLAs at Patna.

    Party leaders said that the chief minister had received reports that their coalition partner BJP was attempting to break the JD(U) MLAs to form a government minus Nitish Kumar.

    “Our leader Nitish Kumar has nipped the BJP’s ‘Operation Kamal’ in the bud. It was the chief minister’s alacrity that prevented the BJP from seizing power by breaking the JD(U) legislature party,” said a senior JD(U) leader.

    ALSO READ | Bihar developments: Deve Gowda expresses hope of Janata Dal Parivar re-emergence

    The first indication of JD(U)-BJP relations going irreconcilably bad came on Monday when the JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh lashed out at the BJP for breaching the coalition dharma by trying to defeat JD(U) candidates by using what he termed as the “Chirag model” where candidates belonging to Ramvilas Paswan’s son Chirag Paswan’s party were reportedly sponsored by the BJP against JD(U) candidates.

    Singh said the JD(U) survived that attack “but a fresh attempt is being made to damage our party.” JD(U) leaders said that the BJP was using former Union minister RCP Singh to split the JD(U).

    Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal accused Nitish Kumar of betraying the mandate of the 2020 assembly polls, and claimed that he will be “punished by the people of Bihar”.

    Kumar’s move was a reversal of his flip in 2017 when he left the Mahagathbandhan to rejoin the NDA.

    He had earlier deserted the NDA in 2013 after Narendra Modi was declared the Prime Ministerial candidate. This is the second time Nitish has left the BJP out in the cold in the last nine years.

    The Bihar assembly has an effective strength of 242 MLAs. The new coalition requires 121 MLAs for a majority.

    ALSO READ | Nitish’s volte-face with NDA: BJP suffers setback in Bihar but sees opportunity to grow

    The RJD has the highest number of 79 MLAs followed by the BJP (77) and the JD(U) with 44. The JD(U) also enjoys the support of four MLAs of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and one Independent.

    The Congress has 19 MLAs while the CPIML(L) has 12 and CPI and CPI(M) have two each. Besides, one MLA belongs to Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM.

    The political development in Bihar would have a big impact on the next Lok Sabha elections. CPIML(L) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said that with the new alignment of forces in Bihar, the state, which sends 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha, would be the main battleground in the 2024 general elections. The BJP-JD(U) alliance had won 39 out of the 40 seats in the 2019 elections.

    Bhattacharya said the BJP always had a dim view of its allies. He said BJP president J P Nadda’s recent statement that “regional parties have no future” reflects the party’s views.

    Tejashwi Yadav said history shows that the BJP has destroyed all its allies.

  • Congress likely to get four ministerial berths in new Nitish government as JDU chief reaches out to Gandhis

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress is likely to get four ministerial berths in the new government in Bihar as JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP and joined hands with the RJD-led alliance, sources said on Tuesday.

    Sources said Kumar spoke to both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi soon after resigning from his post of chief minister.

    He is also learnt to have thanked the Congress leadership for extending support in the formation of the new government.

    Besides the four ministerial berths, the Congress has also sought the post of Speaker of the state assembly, but Kumar is not keen on giving that, sources said.

    The Congress has 19 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly while the JD(U) has 45, RJD 79, CPI(ML) 12, and CPI and CPI(M) each have two legislators.

    The BJP has 77 MLAs in Bihar while the Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has 4.

    The House has one Independent MLA while one seat is vacant.

    Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha and the party’s in-charge of Bihar affairs Bhakta Charan Das were present at the meeting of Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav and leaders of other parties.

    All 19 legislators of the Congress later attended a dinner meeting at the residence of the CLP leader in the Bihar assembly in Patna.

    Top Congress leadership in Delhi however, remained silent on the developments in Bihar and confabulations over the new government formation in the state.

    Earlier, the Congress said it will be a part of the non-BJP alliance in Bihar to help strengthen secular forces.

    The party said that like in Maharashtra where it helped stitch together the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government by supporting the Shiv Sena which was ideologically different from it, it will align with Kumar who has been with them in the past.

    “Ours is an ideological battle and we are not fighting for power. The Congress will support any non-BJP government and help strengthen secular forces,” Congress general secretary Tariq Anwar earlier told PTI.

    “Because Nitish Kumar is leaving the BJP and coming over, we will support him,” he said, adding the Congress will take whatever steps that are needed to strengthen secular forces and defeat the communal forces.

    Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, tweeted, “In March 2020, Modi sarkar postponed COVID-19 lockdown to engineer the fall of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh.

    Now, it cuts short Parliament session knowing its coalition government in Bihar is going.

    What goes up must come down!” A meeting of the RJD-led Grand Alliance, comprising the Left and the Congress, also took place at Rabri Devi’s house, where all the MLAs are said to have signed a letter to support Kumar.

    Nitish Kumar is understood to have told JD(U) legislators and MPs, at a meeting he convened at his official residence, that he had been driven against the wall by the BJP which tried to weaken his party, first by propping up Chirag Paswan’s rebellion and later through its former national president RCP Singh.

    Relations between the BJP and the JD(U) have been worsening in the wake of disagreements over a host of issues including caste census, population control and the ‘Agnipath’ defence recruitment scheme.

    JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar spoke with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and expressed his gratitude to them for supporting him after he broke ties with the BJP, Congress sources said on Tuesday.

    The sources also said Congress will have “active participation” in the government that will be formed by the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) and the JD(U).

    On a day of fast-moving political developments, Kumar met Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan twice — first to hand in his resignation as the NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the Mahagathbandhan to stake claim for the top job in the state once again.

    Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place.

    The effective strength of the Bihar Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122.

    Earlier in the day, Congress had said it will support any non-BJP government in Bihar to help strengthen secular forces.

    The Congress has 19 legislators in the Bihar Assembly.

    Swearing in of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav as Chief Minister and Deputy CM respectively will take place at 2 pm on Wednesday, highly placed sources said here.

    It will be a simple ceremony to be held inside Raj Bhavan.

    More ministers will be inducted into the cabinet at a later stage, sources in Kumar’s JD(U) and Yadav’s RJD said.

    Kumar, who dumped the BJP-led NDA earlier in the day, will be taking oath as the CM for the eighth time.

    He will be heading a coalition of seven parties which is supported by an Independent.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress is likely to get four ministerial berths in the new government in Bihar as JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP and joined hands with the RJD-led alliance, sources said on Tuesday.

    Sources said Kumar spoke to both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi soon after resigning from his post of chief minister.

    He is also learnt to have thanked the Congress leadership for extending support in the formation of the new government.

    Besides the four ministerial berths, the Congress has also sought the post of Speaker of the state assembly, but Kumar is not keen on giving that, sources said.

    The Congress has 19 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly while the JD(U) has 45, RJD 79, CPI(ML) 12, and CPI and CPI(M) each have two legislators.

    The BJP has 77 MLAs in Bihar while the Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has 4.

    The House has one Independent MLA while one seat is vacant.

    Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha and the party’s in-charge of Bihar affairs Bhakta Charan Das were present at the meeting of Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav and leaders of other parties.

    All 19 legislators of the Congress later attended a dinner meeting at the residence of the CLP leader in the Bihar assembly in Patna.

    Top Congress leadership in Delhi however, remained silent on the developments in Bihar and confabulations over the new government formation in the state.

    Earlier, the Congress said it will be a part of the non-BJP alliance in Bihar to help strengthen secular forces.

    The party said that like in Maharashtra where it helped stitch together the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government by supporting the Shiv Sena which was ideologically different from it, it will align with Kumar who has been with them in the past.

    “Ours is an ideological battle and we are not fighting for power. The Congress will support any non-BJP government and help strengthen secular forces,” Congress general secretary Tariq Anwar earlier told PTI.

    “Because Nitish Kumar is leaving the BJP and coming over, we will support him,” he said, adding the Congress will take whatever steps that are needed to strengthen secular forces and defeat the communal forces.

    Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, tweeted, “In March 2020, Modi sarkar postponed COVID-19 lockdown to engineer the fall of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh.

    Now, it cuts short Parliament session knowing its coalition government in Bihar is going.

    What goes up must come down!” A meeting of the RJD-led Grand Alliance, comprising the Left and the Congress, also took place at Rabri Devi’s house, where all the MLAs are said to have signed a letter to support Kumar.

    Nitish Kumar is understood to have told JD(U) legislators and MPs, at a meeting he convened at his official residence, that he had been driven against the wall by the BJP which tried to weaken his party, first by propping up Chirag Paswan’s rebellion and later through its former national president RCP Singh.

    Relations between the BJP and the JD(U) have been worsening in the wake of disagreements over a host of issues including caste census, population control and the ‘Agnipath’ defence recruitment scheme.

    JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar spoke with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and expressed his gratitude to them for supporting him after he broke ties with the BJP, Congress sources said on Tuesday.

    The sources also said Congress will have “active participation” in the government that will be formed by the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) and the JD(U).

    On a day of fast-moving political developments, Kumar met Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan twice — first to hand in his resignation as the NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the Mahagathbandhan to stake claim for the top job in the state once again.

    Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place.

    The effective strength of the Bihar Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122.

    Earlier in the day, Congress had said it will support any non-BJP government in Bihar to help strengthen secular forces.

    The Congress has 19 legislators in the Bihar Assembly.

    Swearing in of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav as Chief Minister and Deputy CM respectively will take place at 2 pm on Wednesday, highly placed sources said here.

    It will be a simple ceremony to be held inside Raj Bhavan.

    More ministers will be inducted into the cabinet at a later stage, sources in Kumar’s JD(U) and Yadav’s RJD said.

    Kumar, who dumped the BJP-led NDA earlier in the day, will be taking oath as the CM for the eighth time.

    He will be heading a coalition of seven parties which is supported by an Independent.

  • All is not well in NDA? JD(U) third major ally to snap ties with BJP in last three years

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The JD(U) on Tuesday became the third major ally after the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal to snap ties with the BJP after 2019.

    Within 18 months of the BJP’s second consecutive Lok Sabha election victory, the party had lost two of its oldest allies – Shiv Sena and Akali Dal.

    And now, with less than two years left for the next general elections, another major ally JD(U), the biggest in terms of lawmakers, moved out of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    JD(U)’s George Fernandes was once the convener of the NDA but the Nitish Kumar-led party snapped ties with the BJP in 2013 after Narendra Modi emerged as the main face of the saffron party.

    Nitish Kumar walked out of the RJD-led Grand Alliance in 2017 and again joined hands with the BJP.

    The JD(U) and the BJP fought the 2020 assembly election together but the ties remained strained and the two parted ways on Tuesday, the second time in nine years.

    The JD(U)’s exit also highlights the fact that for the BJP and the party-led NDA, the eastern region continues to remain difficult terrain, especially the three big states of West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar.

    The scenario continues to remain challenging in most of the southern states also and the saffron party is yet to emerge as a force to reckon with in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

    With the JD(U)’s departure, the BJP along with its allies is in power in only two of the big states in terms of Lok Sabha seats.

    Uttar Pradesh and recently secured Maharashtra have the combined strength of 128 Lok Sabha seats.

    Bihar along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where the BJP is not in power, have the combined strength of 122 Lok Sabha MPs.

    However, the party had won 18 MPs in West Bengal and 17 in Bihar in the 2019 election.

    On the back of strong performance in the north and western regions, the BJP has remained in power at the Centre since 2014 and has been focusing on eastern and southern regions to further expand its footprint.

    “It is a clear signal that the allies are not feeling comfortable with the BJP and one by one they are moving out of the ruling alliance,” Sanjay Kumar, a professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said on the JD(U)’s breaking its alliance.

    “But at the same time, this also opens up opportunities for the BJP to expand where the regional parties have left it,” he said.

    Akali Dal’s Naresh Gujral, however, said that the BJP “believes in ‘Ekala Chalo’ (go solo) and NDA only exists on paper”.

    “Those who are still there it is a matter of time before they also move of this one party show for their survival,” he said.

    Between 2014 to 2019 – Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) – were the major ones to move out of the alliance.

    The TDP moved out of the alliance just ahead of the 2019 elections over the issue of the special status for Andhra Pradesh, while the SAD severed ties in protest against the three farm laws.

    The Shiv Sena dumped the BJP and allied with NCP and Congress in Maharashtra in 2019 over the issue of the chief ministerial post.

    But a big faction of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde came back recently to ally with BJP and again formed the government in Maharashtra with Shinde as the chief minister.

    Besides them, there were several other sub-regional players such as Sudesh Mahto-led All Jharkhand Students Union, OP Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Bodo People’s Front (BPF), Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Goa Forward Party, MDMK and DMDK which also moved out of the ruling alliance.

    The NDA has at least 17 parties as its constituents at the central level, while many other outfits are in coalition in the states also.

    NEW DELHI: The JD(U) on Tuesday became the third major ally after the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal to snap ties with the BJP after 2019.

    Within 18 months of the BJP’s second consecutive Lok Sabha election victory, the party had lost two of its oldest allies – Shiv Sena and Akali Dal.

    And now, with less than two years left for the next general elections, another major ally JD(U), the biggest in terms of lawmakers, moved out of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    JD(U)’s George Fernandes was once the convener of the NDA but the Nitish Kumar-led party snapped ties with the BJP in 2013 after Narendra Modi emerged as the main face of the saffron party.

    Nitish Kumar walked out of the RJD-led Grand Alliance in 2017 and again joined hands with the BJP.

    The JD(U) and the BJP fought the 2020 assembly election together but the ties remained strained and the two parted ways on Tuesday, the second time in nine years.

    The JD(U)’s exit also highlights the fact that for the BJP and the party-led NDA, the eastern region continues to remain difficult terrain, especially the three big states of West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar.

    The scenario continues to remain challenging in most of the southern states also and the saffron party is yet to emerge as a force to reckon with in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

    With the JD(U)’s departure, the BJP along with its allies is in power in only two of the big states in terms of Lok Sabha seats.

    Uttar Pradesh and recently secured Maharashtra have the combined strength of 128 Lok Sabha seats.

    Bihar along with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where the BJP is not in power, have the combined strength of 122 Lok Sabha MPs.

    However, the party had won 18 MPs in West Bengal and 17 in Bihar in the 2019 election.

    On the back of strong performance in the north and western regions, the BJP has remained in power at the Centre since 2014 and has been focusing on eastern and southern regions to further expand its footprint.

    “It is a clear signal that the allies are not feeling comfortable with the BJP and one by one they are moving out of the ruling alliance,” Sanjay Kumar, a professor at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said on the JD(U)’s breaking its alliance.

    “But at the same time, this also opens up opportunities for the BJP to expand where the regional parties have left it,” he said.

    Akali Dal’s Naresh Gujral, however, said that the BJP “believes in ‘Ekala Chalo’ (go solo) and NDA only exists on paper”.

    “Those who are still there it is a matter of time before they also move of this one party show for their survival,” he said.

    Between 2014 to 2019 – Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) – were the major ones to move out of the alliance.

    The TDP moved out of the alliance just ahead of the 2019 elections over the issue of the special status for Andhra Pradesh, while the SAD severed ties in protest against the three farm laws.

    The Shiv Sena dumped the BJP and allied with NCP and Congress in Maharashtra in 2019 over the issue of the chief ministerial post.

    But a big faction of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde came back recently to ally with BJP and again formed the government in Maharashtra with Shinde as the chief minister.

    Besides them, there were several other sub-regional players such as Sudesh Mahto-led All Jharkhand Students Union, OP Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Bodo People’s Front (BPF), Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Goa Forward Party, MDMK and DMDK which also moved out of the ruling alliance.

    The NDA has at least 17 parties as its constituents at the central level, while many other outfits are in coalition in the states also.

  • Nitish Kumar claims support of 164 MLAs of 7 Mahagathbandhan parties to form govt

    By ANI

    PATNA: Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar on Tuesday staked claim to form the next government in Bihar with the support of seven parties after he broke alliance with BJP and resigned as Chief Minister.

    He said there are seven parties including RJD who are supporting him. “I came here to meet Governor and gave my resignation. There are 7 parties including 164 MLAs along with Independents in Mahagathbandahan,” Kumar told reporters. He was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    The JD(U) and RJD, who together constitute a majority in the 243-member state assembly. JD(U) has 45 and the RJD has 79 MLAs. They also have the support of smaller parties like Jitan Manjhi’s HAM. The BJP has 77 MLAs in the state assembly.

    Nitish Kumar earlier in the day broke his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following a meeting of JD-U leaders and legislators. He then sought time from Governor Phagu Chauhan and tendered his resignation.

    According to sources, many JD(U) legislators told Kumar in today’s meeting that the alliance with the BJP had weakened the party since 2020.

    Without naming Chirag Paswan, the legislators are reported to have recalled the actions of the former Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief during the 2020 state assembly polls while warning Kumar that if they were not alert, it would not be good for the party.

    A meeting of the RJD-led opposition alliance was also held at former chief minister Rabri Devi’s residence. The meeting authorised Tejashwi Yadav to take an appropriate decision on government formation in Bihar. 

    PATNA: Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar on Tuesday staked claim to form the next government in Bihar with the support of seven parties after he broke alliance with BJP and resigned as Chief Minister.

    He said there are seven parties including RJD who are supporting him. “I came here to meet Governor and gave my resignation. There are 7 parties including 164 MLAs along with Independents in Mahagathbandahan,” Kumar told reporters. He was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

    The JD(U) and RJD, who together constitute a majority in the 243-member state assembly. JD(U) has 45 and the RJD has 79 MLAs. They also have the support of smaller parties like Jitan Manjhi’s HAM. The BJP has 77 MLAs in the state assembly.

    Nitish Kumar earlier in the day broke his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following a meeting of JD-U leaders and legislators. He then sought time from Governor Phagu Chauhan and tendered his resignation.

    According to sources, many JD(U) legislators told Kumar in today’s meeting that the alliance with the BJP had weakened the party since 2020.

    Without naming Chirag Paswan, the legislators are reported to have recalled the actions of the former Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief during the 2020 state assembly polls while warning Kumar that if they were not alert, it would not be good for the party.

    A meeting of the RJD-led opposition alliance was also held at former chief minister Rabri Devi’s residence. The meeting authorised Tejashwi Yadav to take an appropriate decision on government formation in Bihar.