The ruling NDA in Bihar has dismissed speculations about reconsidering Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as its leader for the assembly polls scheduled for next year.
During a meeting focused on improving grassroots coordination, leaders from the BJP, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, rejected rumors sparked by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks.
Bihar BJP chief and state minister Dilip Jaiswal clarified, “Amit Shah’s statement underscored his role as a ‘karyakarta’ (worker) in a party where major decisions are made by the parliamentary board. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership has long been established, and there is no question of reversing that stance.”
Jaiswal was responding to Shah’s recent interview, where Shah was asked if the NDA might approach the Bihar polls without naming a chief ministerial candidate, as it successfully did in Maharashtra. Shah’s measured response, “We will sit together and decide. We will let you know after a decision is taken,” had triggered speculation about the BJP potentially sidelining Nitish Kumar, who has led the NDA in Bihar for nearly two decades.
Raju Tiwari, state president of the LJP (RV), reaffirmed Kumar’s leadership, stating, “There is no doubt the NDA will contest the upcoming assembly polls under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. Any concerns have been addressed by the BJP president’s categorical statement.”
JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha welcomed the endorsement with enthusiasm, stating, “‘Do hazaar pachis phir se Nitish’ (Nitish again in 2025). This sentiment is shared by all alliance partners.”
Kushwaha emphasized that the JD(U) was never uncertain about leadership, calling it a “settled question” in Bihar, and highlighted the party’s focus on improving coordination at state, district, and booth levels.
