The Bihar Chief Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, who parted ways with the saffron party a year ago, leaving the BJP stripped of power in the state, has found the party’s doors firmly “closed.” State BJP President Samrat Choudhary made this unequivocal statement in response to questions from the press regarding Mr. Kumar’s recent address at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.
In the presence of President Droupadi Murmu and Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Mr. Kumar candidly recounted his struggles with the Congress government at the Centre during his tenure, seeking approval for a university in Motihari, where Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Champaran Satyagraha. Without explicitly naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Kumar acknowledged that the project only gained traction after a shift in leadership “in 2014.” Initially, the UPA government “reluctantly agreed in principle but made no substantial progress.”
During this occasion, Mr. Kumar also emphasized his “lifelong personal friendship” with Radha Mohan Singh, the local BJP MP who previously held a vital role in the agriculture sector during the initial Modi cabinet.
When questioned about Mr. Kumar’s statements, Mr. Choudhary responded with a Bihari adage, “doodh bhaat,” often used to mock juvenile behavior. He remarked, “Just yesterday, we witnessed the Chief Minister attempting to foster a camaraderie with the Governor during an important event.”
Nevertheless, Mr. Choudhary highlighted that Nitish Kumar should express gratitude to Narendra Modi not only for the establishment of the central university but also for substantial financial assistance. He suggested that “Mr. Kumar should thank PM Modi” for his present tenure.
Mr. Choudhary further emphasized that “our party operates on the basis of policy rather than personal relationships,” in response to Mr. Kumar’s talk of personal friendships with BJP leaders. He also reiterated, “Our Home Minister Amit Shah has unequivocally stated that our doors are permanently closed to Nitish Kumar.”
It is noteworthy that after parting ways with the BJP in August of the previous year, Mr. Kumar remained in power through an alliance with the Mahagathbandhan, comprising arch-rival Lalu Prasad’s RJD, Congress, and three Left-wing parties. Accusing the BJP of attempting to destabilize the JDU during this alliance, Mr. Kumar pledged to unite opposition parties nationwide to defeat the NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leading to the formation of the INDIA coalition.