Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi addressed speculations about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s potential return to the NDA alliance, emphasizing that in politics, doors are never permanently closed. Reports suggest uncertainty regarding Kumar’s deal with the BJP, with Modi stating that the decision rests with the central leadership.
Sushil Modi, who was deputy CM during Nitish Kumar’s tenure, was not repeated in the 2020 alliance. Despite Nitish Kumar’s earlier departure from the NDA in 2022, recent developments indicate a more conciliatory approach from the BJP as the INDIA bloc faces internal challenges.
The BJP’s outreach to Bihar allies, including Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, has not provided a clear indication of Nitish Kumar’s potential return. Chirag Paswan, in constant contact with BJP leadership, termed the question of Kumar’s acceptability as “hypothetical.”
Amid the speculation, JD(U) asserted its commitment to the INDIA coalition but called for Congress introspection regarding alliance dynamics. State JD(U) president Umesh Singh Kushwaha dismissed rumors of a possible return to the BJP-led NDA.
As political dynamics unfold, the situation remains fluid, and the final decision lies with the central leadership.