Patna’s political landscape is simmering with tension following Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s announcement to move to the Rajya Sabha. In a fiery speech in the state assembly, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav unleashed a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging it is hell-bent on dismantling the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) using a blueprint straight out of Maharashtra.
Yadav, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, claimed the BJP is maneuvering to sideline Nitish Kumar and install its own compliant leader as the state’s chief executive. ‘The BJP always picks chief ministers who act as rubber stamps,’ he thundered, reiterating long-standing accusations that the BJP had already ‘hijacked’ Nitish. ‘Everything is out in the open now. Bihar’s public sentiment is squarely against this move. Everyone knew the BJP would pull this off, just like it has with every ally it’s ever partnered with.’
He drew parallels to the RSS playbook, accusing the BJP of turning the Election Commission into its own cell to undermine democracy during polls. ‘The people of Bihar are watching closely. We sympathize fully with what Nitish Kumar is enduring. It’s crystal clear who these people are and what they’re doing. This is outright betrayal of the masses.’ Yadav painted a picture of relentless pressure from the BJP, forcing Nitish into the Rajya Sabha decision and aiming to erase JD(U) as a viable political force.
Adding fuel to the fire, Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, took to X (formerly Twitter) to lambast Nitish. She argued that the veteran leader, notorious for repeated betrayals of allies, has only himself to blame for his current predicament. ‘The man at the pinnacle of opportunism was cornered by the BJP into this choice, but it was sealed on January 28, 2024, when he flipped from the Mahagathbandhan to cling to power,’ she wrote. Rohini described Nitish as a puppet in the hands of a BJP infamous for burying its partners’ political graves.
As Bihar gears up for potential realignments, these accusations highlight deepening rifts in the NDA alliance. The coming days could redefine the state’s power dynamics, with opposition voices growing louder against perceived BJP dominance.