All articles tagged with #nitish kumar
Chandrababu Naidu is reportedly demanding Special Status for Andhra Pradesh, the Lok Sabha Speaker's position, and eight central cabinet ministries as part of his negotiations with the NDA-led government. Nitish Kumar is also seeking key ministries, including Railways and Agro Industries. These demands, if met, could significantly boost development in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will remain with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) forever, expressing confidence in the alliance's success in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Kumar, who recently returned to the NDA, made the statement during the unveiling of projects worth Rs 21,400 crore in Aurangabad district. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary praised PM Modi's government for fulfilling its promises, claiming it to be a first in 75 years.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government easily won a trust vote with 129 votes in its favor, as three RJD MLAs crossed over to the NDA and five absent JD(U) MLAs turned up just before the voting. The NDA's tally stood at 130, securing a simple majority in the House of 243. Tejashwi Yadav led the attack from the Opposition side, claiming a "moral victory" for the RJD. Nitish Kumar accused RJD leaders of corruption and expressed disenchantment with the opposition alliance, while Tejashwi criticized Nitish's alliance shifts and hinted at forming a government with Congress and Left parties.
The Bihar assembly session has begun with the trust vote for the renewed Nitish Kumar-BJP alliance government, which is expected to easily cross the majority mark with 128 members in the 243-member assembly. The no-confidence motion against the RJD-led Speaker is another hurdle the NDA is likely to overcome, amid rumours of missing RJD MLAs. Nitish Kumar's decision to form a new government with the BJP after leaving the Grand Alliance has sparked political upheaval in Bihar.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to prove his government's majority in the assembly on Monday, with the NDA appearing poised to secure victory during the trust vote. Both camps have been corralling lawmakers amid fears of MLA poaching, and the fate of the speaker remains uncertain as a no-trust proposal has been submitted against him. The political drama unfolds as Nitish Kumar seeks to solidify his position after severing ties with the RJD-Congress-Left Grand Alliance and joining the NDA.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is set to prove his government's majority in the assembly on Monday, with NDA appearing poised to secure victory during the trust vote. Both camps have corralled MLAs amid fears of poaching, and the fate of the speaker remains uncertain as a no-trust proposal has been submitted against him. The political drama intensifies as preparations for the crucial vote are underway, with NDA emphasizing procedural clarity and GA vowing not to give NDA a walkover.
Nitish Kumar's return to the BJP in Bihar is expected to bolster the party's prospects in the upcoming elections, while diminishing his own authority. The BJP's attention is now turning towards Maharashtra, where it aims to secure 40-plus seats in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the power struggle within the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, coupled with the OBC agitation over Maratha quotas, presents challenges for the party. The political landscape in Maharashtra is rife with possibilities, including potential realignments within the ruling MVA alliance and the role of Sharad Pawar.
Prashant Kishor, election strategist-turned-activist, criticized the timing of Rahul Gandhi's yatra, stating that the Congress leader should be at headquarters during the election battle. He also discussed the BJP's strategy in embracing Nitish Kumar to weaken the Opposition alliance and emphasized the missed opportunities of the Opposition to challenge the BJP. Kishor suggested that the BJP's vote share is 38% and the challenge for the Opposition is to unite the remaining 62% of votes. He criticized the Opposition's late alliance formation and emphasized the need for a focused agenda on the welfare of the majority of Indians.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar criticized Rahul Gandhi's comments on the caste survey and Tejashwi Yadav's claims about job creation, stating that the Mahagathbandhan government had already initiated the caste survey and job push. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the achievements of the INDIA alliance and emphasized his decision to join the NDA. Nitish refuted Rahul's assertion that they had made him agree to the caste survey, highlighting his prior support for it. Additionally, he defended himself against allegations of the Central government targeting opposition leaders and emphasized the developmental progress made during his tenure as CM.
Rahul Gandhi breaks his silence on Nitish Kumar's switch to the BJP, alleging that Nitish was pressured to do a caste survey and subsequently made a U-turn. He spoke at a Mahagathbandhan rally in Bihar, criticizing Nitish's move and highlighting the importance of a caste census. The Congress, RJD, and Left leaders put up a united front at the rally, with Rahul addressing economic justice for farmers and criticizing the BJP's political maneuvers. Meanwhile, in West Bengal, Congress and TMC tensions continue as the TMC questions the Congress's silence over probes against its leaders, and Congress accuses TMC of creating hurdles for Rahul's Yatra.
Nitish Kumar's decision to ally with the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections could benefit his party, JD(U), as historical data shows that the party gains from its association with the BJP in national elections. Despite facing criticism for leaving the opposition bloc and returning to the NDA fold, Nitish Kumar aims to leverage the BJP's Hindutva agenda and Prime Minister Modi's popularity to improve his party's performance in the upcoming elections, recognizing the significant impact the Lok Sabha polls will have on the alliance arithmetic in the subsequent assembly elections.
BJP has named Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha as deputy CMs in Bihar, disregarding Nitish Kumar's preferences and asserting its influence in the coalition. This move signals BJP's decision not to be swayed by Nitish's sensitivities and to play a more assertive role in the alliance. The appointments reflect BJP's aim to expand support among different castes and assert its influence in the coalition government.
Nitish Kumar's return to the NDA has undermined the Opposition's 2024 caste pitch and sharpened the anti-Congress plank. His move challenges the Opposition's strategy of countering Hindutva with social justice and reinforces the "Hindutva plus social justice" approach of the BJP. This shift in alliances has put pressure on the Congress and weakened Opposition unity in Bihar, with implications for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Cracks in Bihar's Grand Alliance began to show as early as November 2, when signs of discomfort between RJD and JD(U) emerged. Nitish Kumar's unilateral decisions and public appearances without Tejashwi Yadav, along with other events, indicated growing tensions. The final straw came when Nitish launched a scathing attack on "dynastic politics" on Jan 24, leading to the formal announcement of the alliance's breakup.
Nitish Kumar has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 9th time, with BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha named as Deputy Chief Ministers. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by BJP president J P Nadda, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new team, expressing confidence in their commitment to serve the people. Kumar's resignation from the Mahagathbandhan government was followed by the formation of a new alliance, INDIA bloc, which also did not work out well. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav expressed respect for Kumar but asserted that the game was not over yet. This marks the fifth time since 2013 that Kumar has changed political alliances, with the current NDA government having the support of 123 MLAs, while the opposition has 114 MLAs.