The buzz around the possibility of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's return to the INDIA bloc or the Mahagathbandhan in the state refuses to abate. While RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav is ready to join hands with CM Nitish Kumar once again, Nitish Kumar's move is now awaited.
Lalu Prasad Yadav wants to form a government with Nitish Kumar again. On Wednesday, January 1, Lalu Prasad Yadav set the political arena of Bihar buzzing saying that the doors will remain open for Nitish Kumar's return to the Mahagathbandhan. The Bihar CM seemed to play it safe for now by not committing anything.
During an interaction with reporters on Thursday, Nitish Kumar responded with just a cryptic 'Namaskar', keeping all guessing on his next move.
But is the JD-U ready for a return to the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar? Going by Nitish Kumar's past, it is not entirely impossible for the Bihar CM to stage a U-Turn by joining hands with Lalu. Nitish is known for his U-turns, which earned him the moniker 'Palturam'.
JD-U leader and Union Minister Lalan Singh said on Thursday: "Let's leave it at that. What Laluji says and thinks should be asked of him. We are in the NDA and we are strong." On the question that Tejashwi Yadav is saying that a new government will be formed in 2025, Lalan Singh said, "Why should we react to what others say?"
If Nitish Kumar accepts Lalu Prasad's offer, it could be a major blow to the NDA at the Centre, which has 12 MPs from the JD-U.
'New Year Will See New Bihar Government': Tejashwi Yadav
While Lalu Yadav offered an alliance to CM Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav said a new government would be formed in the New Year. However, Tejashwi Yadav has made it clear that he would not go to Nitish Kumar now.
On Lalu Yadav's offer to Nitish Kumar, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan says, "If followers of Gandhi detach themselves from the followers of Godse, then we are with them..."