Nitish Kumar, who was uniting the Opposition to take on BJP until yesterday, took oath as Bihar Chief Minister on Sunday with BJP as the new alliance partner.
The Bihar leader dumped his partner RJD and resigned as Chief Minister earlier today.
After meeting the governor, he said, "I have resigned from the post of chief minister today. The new Grand Alliance that we created (in August 2022) is not in a good condition. The situation is not looking good."
Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha from the BJP are Mr Kumar's new deputies.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS on big political shift in Bihar:
मैं माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी को उनके द्वारा दी गई बधाई एवं शुभकामना के लिए अपनी ओर से और समस्त बिहारवासियों की ओर से आभार प्रकट करता हूं तथा उनके सहयोग के लिए हृदय से धन्यवाद देता हूं। बिहार में एन०डी०ए० गठबंधन के साथ नई सरकार का गठन हो चुका है। जनता मालिक है और...
- Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) January 28, 2024
The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) on Sunday said Nitish Kumar will be remembered in political history as the "great paltu Ram" who loves jumping on command of BJP. "It is not surprising that he has done this 'Volte - Face' once again because he seems to be addicted to this kind of behaviour," NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said in a statement. The NCP dubbed BJP the "madari" of Nitish Kumar, who it said "loves jumping to their commands".
Shortly after Nitish Kumar took oath, a record ninth time, as Bihar Chief Minister with BJP as its partner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent out congratulations to the new Bihar team and the Chief Minister. Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha, from the BJP, are Nitish Kumar's new deputies. "The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfil the aspirations of its people. Congratulate @NitishKumar ji on becoming Chief Minister and Samrat Chaudhary ji and Vijay Sinha ji on taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers," Mr Modi posted on X in Hindi. "I am confident that this team will serve my family members of the state with full dedication. @samrat4bjp @VijayKrSinhaBih," the Prime Minister added.
Nitish Kumar, who was uniting the Opposition to take on BJP until yesterday, took oath as Bihar Chief Minister today with BJP as the new alliance partner.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday welcomed JD(U) president Nitish Kumar's decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, calling it "better late than ever". The central minister of state for social justice and empowerment said Mr Kumar has taken the right decision at the right time to be a part of the NDA.
In sharp remarks on the Bihar power shift, poll strategist Prashant Kishor has called Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "paltumaar" and said flip-flops have become a part of his politics. Mr Kishor, who now heads the Jan Suraj organisation that may back some candidates in the next Bihar election, did not spare the BJP either and said its leaders, who were criticising Mr Kumar days back, are now welcoming him. 'Paltumar' means someone who keeps shifting his stand. In the wake of five political flip-flops in a decade, Mr Kumar is being described as 'paltumar' or 'paltu kumar' by critics. Read here
Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar's deputy Chief Minister until a few hours ago, today termed his ex boss and ally, Nitish Kumar, a "tired Chief Minister", as the latter pulled a big switcheroo and joined hands with the BJP again. Mr Yadav underlined that his party, the RJD, did the bulk of the work in the Nitish Kumar-led government, adding that such work has not been seen in years.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday took a swipe at JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar over his latest volte-face after he walked out of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, dubbing him as a "snollygoster" or a shrewd and unprincipled politici
🔴#NitishKumar and 8 MLAs to take oath, today:
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
▪️ Chief Minister:
Nitish Kumar- Janata Dal (United)
▪️ Deputy Chief Ministers:
1⃣ Samrat Chaudhary- BJP
2⃣ Vijay Sinha- BJP
▪️ Ministers:
1⃣ Dr. Prem Kumar - BJP
2⃣ Bijendra Prasad Yadav - Janata Dal (United)
3⃣ Vijay Kumar... pic.twitter.com/RMpIC60mYb
BREAKING: Nitish Kumar stakes claim to form new government in Bihar after getting letter of support from BJP.
माननीय राज्यपाल श्री राजेंद्र विश्वनाथ आर्लेकर @rajendraarlekar से मिलकर माननीय कार्यवाहक मुख्यमंत्री श्री नीतीश कुमार के नेतृत्व में जद यू, भाजपा एवं हम के नेताओं तथा एक निर्दलीय विधायक ने सरकार बनाने का दावा पेश किया। pic.twitter.com/zytexFAbHj
- Raj Bhavan, Bihar (@GovernorBihar) January 28, 2024
Watch | Janata Dal (United) spokesperson KC Tyagi explains why #NitishKumar snapped ties with the RJD and allied with the BJP. pic.twitter.com/kMVoD1eBGF
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
If the main man (Nitish Kumar) behind this alliance says so, then there was no future (for INDIA alliance). There is no vacancy for the Prime Ministerial post. BJP will have a historic win in Lok Sabha polls and in Bihar we will win the whole 40 seats," BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad.
#WATCH | On INDIA alliance and Bihar political situation, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad says, " If the main man (Nitish Kumar) behind this alliance says so, then there was no future (for INDIA alliance). There is no vacancy for the Prime Ministerial post. BJP will have a historic... pic.twitter.com/fdaCiw270B
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
कूड़ा गया फिर से कूड़ेदानी में
- Rohini Acharya (@RohiniAcharya2) January 28, 2024
कूड़ा - मंडली को बदबूदार कूड़ा मुबारक pic.twitter.com/gQvablD7fC
#WATCH | Patna: JD(U) President and acting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan pic.twitter.com/OzWL4aqzEo
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
Nitish Kumar has been one of the key faces of the Opposition's INDIA bloc and was at the forefront of forging the united front to take on the formidable BJP. A flip-flop at this stage will leave the INDIA bloc red-faced
Nitish Kumar has done it again. He has resigned as Bihar Chief Minister, dumped the Mahagathbandhan with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, and returned to where he was in July 2022.
Bihar Political Crisis: Nitish Kumar today resigned as Bihar Chief Minister, ending his party Janata Dal(United)'s two-year association with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Nitish Kumar today dumped the struggling Congress and INDIA alliance and joined hands with the BJP.
देश में 'आया राम-गया राम' जैसे कई लोग हैं।
- Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 28, 2024
पहले वो और हम मिलकर लड़ रहे थे। जब मैंने लालू जी और तेजश्वी जी से बात की तो उन्होंने भी कहा कि नीतीश जा रहे हैं।
अगर वह रुकना चाहता तो रुक जाता लेकिन वह जाना चाहता है। इसलिए ये बात हमें पहले से ही पता थी, लेकिन इंडिया गठबंधन को... pic.twitter.com/pgjCISOFuV
BJP's Samrat Chaudhary, Vijay Sinha To Be #NitishKumar's Deputies: Sources https://t.co/t4rULglp2H@akhileshsharma1 reports pic.twitter.com/47cvc4pI6B
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
Watch | BJP MLAs start arriving at #NitishKumar's residence after he resigned from the post of Chief Minister @mickygupta84 reports pic.twitter.com/BZe07vkBCS
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
Former Deputy Chief Minister Of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi today congratulated Nitish Kumar for exiting the Mahagathbadhan bloc.
महागठबंधन सरकार के सीएम पद से इस्तीफ़ा देने के लिए नीतीश कुमार को बधाई !
- Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) January 28, 2024
Following Nitish Kumar's resignation from the post of Chief Minister, bringing an end to the 'Mahagathbandhan' rule in Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will not allow Jungle Raj to return, indicating the formation of Nationalist Democratic Alliance-led government in the state.
After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned from the CM's post today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that he knew it would happen, adding "There are many people in the country like 'Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram'.
Nitish Kumar has been one of the key faces of the Opposition's INDIA bloc and was at the forefront of forging the united front to take on the formidable BJP. A flip-flop at this stage will leave the INDIA bloc red-faced
Nitish Kumar has resigned as Bihar Chief Minister after days of political speculation over his fifth-flop in a decade, sources have told NDTV
बार-बार राजनीतिक साझेदार बदलने वाले नीतीश कुमार रंग बदलने में गिरगिटों को कड़ी टक्कर दे रहे हैं।
- Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 28, 2024
इस विश्वासघात के विशेषज्ञ और उन्हें इशारों पर नचाने वालों को बिहार की जनता माफ़ नहीं करेगी।
बिलकुल साफ़ है की भारत जोड़ो न्याय यात्रा से प्रधानमंत्री और भाजपा घबराए हुए हैं और उससे... https://t.co/v47tQ8ykaw
माननीय राज्यपाल श्री राजेंद्र विश्वनाथ आर्लेकर @rajendraarlekar ने माननीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री नीतीश कुमार का त्यागपत्र स्वीकार किया तथा वैकल्पिक व्यवस्था होने तक उन्हें कार्यवाहक मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में कार्य करने को कहा। pic.twitter.com/t5mo95pYKp
- Raj Bhavan, Bihar (@GovernorBihar) January 28, 2024
Watch | "I made INDIA alliance but no work was done": #NitishKumar after resigning as Bihar Chief Minister pic.twitter.com/BO0pnuoads
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
"I did so much. I formed an Opposition alliance but nobody was working. It was bothering people," he said.
"Did not find the situation okay. Today, other parties if they decide, we will take a decision on that," he said.
🔴#BREAKING | "I have resigned from the post of Bihar Chief Minister": Nitish Kumar pic.twitter.com/qP9582gtbj
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
"The condition of the new alliance that we formed was not good," he said.
🔴#BREAKING | Nitish Kumar Resigns As Chief Minister Of Bihar Ahead Of NDA Return https://t.co/fZtIqAO8k2 @mickygupta84 reports pic.twitter.com/oqPqhh285y
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
Nitish Kumar Resigns As Bihar Chief Minister
Watch | Bihar Chief Minister reaches Raj Bhavan @ranveer_sh reports pic.twitter.com/yedlSNYbqx
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
"Nitish Kumar called the first meeting of opposition parties in Patna on 18th June 2023. The second meeting was held in Bengaluru on 17th-18th July 2023. Then again on 31st August-1st September in Mumbai. Nitish Kumar played a prominent role in all three meetings, so we were considering Nitish Kumar to fight the BJP and its ideology till the very end," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
Watch | A meeting of JD(U) leaders underway at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence in Patna@mickygupta84 and @ranveer_sh pic.twitter.com/DSxqdCo5ql
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
A meeting of JD(U) MLAs and leaders of the party has begun at the residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna, reports news agency ANI.
A meeting of Bihar BJP MLAs and leaders of the party is underway at the party office in Patna, amid political developments in the state.
#WATCH | A meeting of Bihar BJP MLAs and leaders of the party is underway at the party office in Patna, amid political developments in the state. pic.twitter.com/Gsg9rIpg6h
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
On political developments in the state, former Bihar Deputy CM and BJP MLA Tarkishore Prasad says, "The central leadership is keeping an eye on this. I won't be able to comment on this. We will follow the directions of the central leadership."
#WATCH | Patna | Former Bihar Deputy CM and BJP MLA Tarkishore Prasad says, "A legislative party meeting has been called and we have come here for that. The agenda is not clear. We have been told to come, so we have come..."
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
On political developments in the state, he says, "The... pic.twitter.com/AVUbdtiYeg
JDU MLAs have started reaching Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence for the meeting. Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of its party legislators at 10 am.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar | JD(U) MLAs begin arriving at the residence of CM Nitish Kumar for a meeting.
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
An MLA says, "I don't know what the meeting is about. We will tell you whatever is discussed inside..." pic.twitter.com/xeALQV1WkF
#WATCH | Patna: On the current political situation in Bihar, RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari says, "... The people are watching everything and will keep a record of all this. The work done in the last 15 months with Tejaswi Yadav as deputy CM can never be forgotten. This is our... pic.twitter.com/gfAS3PUAmO
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
Amid political developments in Bihar, RJD Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav told ANI, "Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav had together formed the mahagathbandhan government in Bihar...In line with its traits, BJP started taking interest in Bihar politics. It was drooling for power in the state and started conspiring for it. When the resignation (of Nitish Kumar) will take place, things will come out in the open."
Nitish Kumar is expected to resign as the Bihar Chief Minister today, ending his party Janata Dal(United)'s two-year association with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Amid reports that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is gearing up for his flip-flop in a decade and is about to join hands with the BJP again, a video clip from January last year has resurfaced on social media.
#WATCH | Bihar BJP MLAs arrive at the party office in Patna for a meeting.
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
MLA Ram Singh says, "Meetings are going on Lok Sabha elections. The decision that comes from the top will be implemented. JP Nadda is coming here...We will win all 40 seats..." pic.twitter.com/haGopJUmUR
JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar says, "Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party has the right to take out a padayatra but the results of that padayatra - when he went to Bengal, Mamata Banerjee was sidelined and now when he is about to enter Bihar, the political scenario is changing here. So, Rahul Gandhi should do some self-introspection that where is his strategy failing so that wherever he goes, the allies start drifting apart."
#WATCH | JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar says, "Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party has the right to take out a padayatra but the results of that padayatra - when he went to Bengal, Mamata Banerjee was sidelined and now when he is about to enter Bihar, the political scenario is changing... pic.twitter.com/hAiPrh5OdU
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
When asked about recent political developments in Bihar and speculations around Nitish Kumar, BJP MLA Motilal Prasad told ANI, "I have no such details with me. We have a meeting at 9 am and I have come for that...Anything is possible in politics, but no such decision has come before us. So I won't be able to say much about it..."
#WATCH | Patna | When asked about recent political developments in Bihar and speculations around Nitish Kumar, BJP MLA Motilal Prasad says, "I have no such details with me. We have a meeting at 9 am and I have come for that...Anything is possible in politics, but no such decision... pic.twitter.com/VV756qCiPG
- ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
Nitish Kumar To Resign Today? RJD, Congress Work On Firefighting Plan
Nitish Kumar To Resign Today? RJD, Congress Work On Firefighting Plan https://t.co/5ZwInE5AYz@mickygupta84 reports pic.twitter.com/aOcPZEdXCu
- NDTV (@ndtv) January 28, 2024
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appears set for a second political volte-face in less than three years and is likely to join hands with the BJP today. He will meet the Governor at 11.30 am and tender his resignation, sources said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will sack ministers belonging to alliance partner and Lalu Yadav's party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) today, sources told NDTV.
BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who was deputy to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar when the BJP and the Janata Dal (United) was in an alliance in the state, is wanted back in the state.
"...The way our party talks about the poor and works among them...we feel that our party should have at least two posts for our ministers. In such a case, we will be able to provide better services to the public. The aspirations of the workers should be fulfilled. Our leaders are standing with the Prime Minister," Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Shyam Sunder Sharan told ANI.