Amidst the burgeoning conjecture surrounding the potential realignment of political alliances in Bihar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, senior BJP figure Giriraj Singh seized the opportunity to taunt Bihar's Mahagathbandhan coalition, specifically targeting its linchpins, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad. Singh insinuated that Kumar, the JD(U) chief, recurrently instills apprehension within his current ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), by whimsically invoking the refrain, "main maayke chali jaungi tum dekhte rahiyo" (I'll return to my parent's home, you just watch). In his commentary to news agency ANI, Singh elaborated, suggesting that Kumar habitually teases Prasad with flirtations of aligning with the BJP, yet fails to acknowledge that the BJP's proverbial doors are now closed to him.
This narrative unfolded against the backdrop of a series of cryptic tweets from Rohini Acharya, Prasad's daughter based in Singapore, which many interpreted as a veiled response to Kumar's critique of dynastic politics at a recent JD(U) rally commemorating the birth anniversary of Karpoori Thakur, a former chief minister and socialist luminary of the state. However, Acharya swiftly deleted these tweets within an hour, adding to the intrigue surrounding the episode.
The resulting discord between the principal allies of the Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar has set political circles abuzz, with widespread speculation regarding Kumar's potential reversion to the NDA fold ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Amidst this upheaval, sources indicate that Nitish Kumar is contemplating yet another ideological shift, possibly aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming electoral battle. Concurrently, senior leaders from the JD(U) and RJD camps have convened separate deliberations to assess the unfolding scenario and recalibrate their political strategies. Key JD(U) figures, including Lalan Singh and Vijay Kumar Choudhary, have convened at Kumar's residence in Patna for consultations. At the same time, counterparts from the RJD, including Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, have congregated at the official residence of Rabri Devi, Lalu Prasad's wife and former chief minister of Bihar.
Meanwhile, the Bihar BJP is closely monitoring the situation, with the state unit chief, Samrat Choudhary, and Union Minister Ashwini Choubey reportedly en route to Delhi for discussions with senior party leadership. Sources within the BJP have hinted that the party may not endorse Nitish Kumar's reinstatement as chief minister should the JD(U) opt to realign with the NDA. A plausible compromise could entail Kumar stepping down from his post, thereby facilitating BJP's ascension to power in the state.
