Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar chief minister for a record eighth time.
Nitish Kumar took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar today for a record eighth time, forming a government with Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal and other parties as a new "Grand Alliance". Tejashwi Yadav took oath as his deputy.
Here are the live updates:
Ex Aide Prashant Kishor's "Teflon" Dig At Nitish Kumar As He Takes OathNumbers show that Nitish Kumar's image is not "teflon-coated", election strategist Prashant Kishor told NDTV hours ahead of the ceremony in which the Janata Dal United leader would take oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the eighth time.
Mr Kishor, who was earlier a part of Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), was speaking after a day of high drama in the politically significant state that saw Mr Kumar walk out of the alliance with the BJP and tie up with Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal. The BJP has accused Mr Kumar of betraying the public mandate and stressed that voters will not forgive him.
After Taking Oath In Bihar, Nitish Kumar Issues 2024 Challenge To PM Modi
After taking oath as Bihar Chief Minister an eighth time thus continuing in the chair with a change of partners Nitish Kumar took a shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the next Lok Sabha elections: "He won in 2014, but will he in 2024?"
Some In Nitish Kumar's Party Wanted Him To Be Vice President: BJP MP
Some people in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party wanted him to become Vice President, BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters today. Mr Modi, who was Mr Kumar's deputy before he became a Rajya Sabha MP, said the same Janata Dal (United) leaders approached him with a plan that he could become Bihar Chief Minister if Mr Kumar goes to Delhi as Vice President.
The Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), hasn't yet responded to these allegations by Mr Modi.
"Some JD(U) people had come to say that make 'Nitish Kumar the Vice President and you should rule in Bihar'," Mr Modi told reporters just before Mr Kumar took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for a record eighth time.
Nitish Kumar Countered Era of Backdoor Politics In Bihar: Telangana MLC
Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha on Wednesday lauded Nitish Kumar for countering the "era of backdoor politics" in Bihar after he split from the NDA a day ago, and said that it is a "positive change" for the whole nation.
Speaking to the reporters here, Ms Kavitha said, "I believe it's a positive change for the whole nation because the era of backdoor politics has been countered very well by Nitish Kumar. I appreciate the efforts he has taken and Mahagathbandhan which stood behind him to uphold the verdict given by the people of Bihar."
"Amit Shah Did Speak To Nitish Kumar" To Save Alliance: BJP Leader To NDTV
The BJP tried every bit to save the alliance with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) before the cracks became so wide that mending them became impossible, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad told NDTV today.
Yesterday, sources had told NDTV that top BJP leaders did not contact Mr Kumar or tried to convince him to stay, despite knowing the trajectory of events well in advance.
"We have always tried to save the alliance," Mr Prasad said at an event today.
On whether Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Mr Kumar before the JD(U) announced it was quitting the alliance, Mr Prasad said, "Yes, he spoke with Nitish Kumar...But Nitish ji's ambitions had become so huge, he no longer trusted the alliance. The people of Bihar will give an answer soon. We will keep working for the people."
"Migratory Bird" Nitish Kumar Hops From 1 Branch To Next: Minister's Jibe
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Tuesday took a jibe at Nitish Kumar who parted ways with the BJP in Bihar yesterday to join hands with the Opposition parties to form government, and likened him to "migratory bird" stating that it is his "nature" to "jump from one branch to another".
The remark of the BJP leader came a day after Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP in Bihar alleging that the party "tried weakening the JD(U)". Nitish Kumar, who had pulled out of the Grand Alliance in 2017 to reunite with its former ally BJP in 2017, once again joined hands with the Mahagathbandhan including RJD and other parties.
Haryana Minister said that it a matter of a few days.
"Nitish Kumar is a migratory bird. It is his nature to jump from one branch to another. By mistake, some birds have gathered on a branch. Nobody knows who will fly, when and where. It is a matter of a few days," Anil Vij tweeted in Hindi.