Patna: Nitish Kumar Resigns as Bihar Chief Minister Amid Political Speculation

In a significant political development today, Nitish Kumar has officially stepped down from his role as the Chief Minister of Bihar, sparking widespread speculation about his political maneuvering. The resignation follows days of conjecture regarding the leader’s potential return to an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

After a meeting with the governor, Nitish Kumar announced, “I have resigned from the post of Chief Minister today. The Grand Alliance formed in August 2022 is facing challenges, and the situation is not favorable.”

The swearing-in ceremony for Mr. Kumar is expected to take place today, where sources indicate that he will be joined by two Deputy Chief Ministers from the BJP, namely Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha.

Nitish Kumar, the chief of the Janata Dal (United), submitted his resignation at 11 am today after earlier meeting with MLAs from his party at his official residence. This move signifies his departure from the 28-party Opposition bloc INDIA, as he gears up to form a new coalition with the BJP.

Sources suggest that Nitish Kumar plans to remove ministers affiliated with his former alliance partner, Lalu Yadav’s party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Additionally, a seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Lok Sabha election has been finalized between the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United).

Ahead of the political reshuffle, all BJP MLAs in Bihar have reportedly pledged their support to Nitish Kumar. To strategize further, BJP MLAs and MPs convened at the party office in Patna at 10 am today, with BJP President JP Nadda and other leaders scheduled to arrive in Patna via a special charter flight at 3 pm. The unfolding events indicate a significant shift in Bihar’s political landscape as alliances are reshaped and preparations are made for the upcoming elections.