Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Calls Meeting Of JDU MLAs, MPs On Tuesday Amid Rumours Of Rift With BJP

Bihar Politics: Amid rumours of a rift in the BJP-JD(U) alliance, it is believed that the meeting called by CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday will decide the future of the state government. 

New Delhi: After Maharashtra, looks like it is Bihar that can go into a political crisis as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called a meeting of all Janata Dal (United) MLAs and MPs on Tuesday, fueling speculation that the party may break the alliance with the BJP.

According to sources, the meeting called by CM Nitish Kumar will decide the future of the ruling alliance in the state. There is a possibility of major political upheaval in the JD(U)-BJP ruled state in the next 48 hours. 

Tensions surfaced as former union minister RCP Singh, who had quit the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to join JD(U) 12 years ago, on Saturday announced his resignation from the party which he had headed a year-and-a-half ago.

The resignation came hours after a letter served on him by the party leadership seeking an explanation about allegations of corruption got circulated in the media.

With Bihar CM Nitish Kumar skipping NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Sunday chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and the Janata Dal-United alliance came again under the scanner.

Nitish Kumar Contacted Sonia Gandhi?

JD(U) on Sunday rebuffed speculations of a rift with ally BJP asserting “all is well” as it also stated that the party will not join the Union council of ministers, news agency PTI reported. However, the assurance has not done much to stop the speculation of JD(U) exiting the ruling alliance as reports of CM Nitish contacting Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi also surfaced.

According to sources, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has contacted Congress President Sonia Gandhi as there is now speculation that the JD(U) may go with the Congress after breaking away from the BJP. JD(U) and Congress have reportedly called a meeting of their respective legislature parties.

JD(U) vs BJP Over Next Polls?

Of late, the gap between BJP and JD(U) appeared to be widening. News agency IANS reported sources as saying that Nitish Kumar is not happy with the BJP's Prawas programme in 200 Assembly constituencies of Bihar.

IANS Sources said that the BJP wanted to give out a message that it will contest all 243 assembly seats in future elections. In response to it, JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said that his party is also preparing for 243 seats.

In the past, CM Nitish Kumar had questioned the parameters on which Niti Aayog evaluated the development works of a particular state. Niti Aayog, in its report, had placed Bihar at the bottom of the development index in the country. This could be another reason for skipping the meeting of the Aayog.