As political tensions rise following Nitish Kumar's resignation to Governor Rajendra V Arlekar, an old video of him claiming 'would rather die than go to NDA' has emerged online, capturing the attention of many. In a video from 2023, Nitish Kumar stated: "Mar jaana qabool hai lekin unke saath jaana humko kabhi qabool nahin hai (Would prefer to die rather than go with them (BJP)." In the video, Nitish was responding to the BJP's decision that they would never ally with JDU chief. Nitish Kumar has now rejoined the BJP-led NDA alliance just a year after claiming he would rather die than join it.
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As Nitish joined hands with Congress and RJD to form state government in 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier last year, accused Nitish Kumar of plunging Bihar into 'jungle raj', thus claiming that the BJP was now unhappy with the erstwhile ally's flip-flops and that its 'doors are closed forever'. "Enough of 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram', the BJP's doors are closed forever for Nitish," Shah said.
Nitish Kumar ended his alliance with the BJP in August 2022 and joined up with the RJD instead. In the 2020 election, he supported the BJP. Nitish Kumar is well-known for switching sides over the years; in 1994, he left the then-Janata Dal to join the Samata Party with George Fernandes. In 1996, he joined the BJP and was appointed minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet.
In Bihar's 243-member Assembly, the RJD has 79 MLAs, followed by the BJP with 78, the JD(U) with 45, the Congress with 19, the CPI (M-L) with 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) with four seats, and the AIMIM with one, plus one Independent legislator.