In a swift rebuttal to viral speculation, Union Home Minister of State Nityanand Rai has firmly denied any government plans to carve out a new Union Territory from districts in Bihar and West Bengal. The clarification came directly on social media platform X, targeting independent MP Pappu Yadav’s provocative claims that had ignited fierce political debate.
Rai’s statement arrived just a day after Yadav alleged a BJP-orchestrated scheme to impose President’s Rule in West Bengal, pass a resolution in Bihar’s assembly, and merge Seemanchal districts with areas like Malda, Murshidabad, Raiganj, and Dinajpur into a single central province. Yadav linked recent high-profile appointments—a military background governor in Bihar and a former IB officer in Bengal—to this supposed plot, even hinting at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ouster.
‘No such plan exists. It’s entirely baseless,’ Rai posted on his official X handle, tagging Yadav and urging the public not to take his tweets seriously. The minister’s intervention has quelled rumors that had spread rapidly amid ongoing political maneuvers in the region, including governor changes and Nitish Kumar’s Rajya Sabha nomination.
The controversy underscores the charged atmosphere in Bihar’s Seemanchal belt, a region long marked by cross-border cultural and economic ties with Bengal. Yadav, known for his outspoken style, doubled down in response, insisting ‘no smoke without fire’ and vowing economic resistance if the UT materializes. Rai’s denial, however, appears to have drawn a line under the speculation for now.
As Bihar gears up for future elections, such claims highlight the fragile alliances and regional sensitivities that continue to shape national politics. With NDA partners like Nitish Kumar firmly in place, the central leadership seems intent on maintaining stability rather than redrawing boundaries.