New Delhi/ Patna: The absence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, along with Union Ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, at the swearing-in ceremony of Delhi’s new Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has sparked political discussions ahead of the Bihar assembly elections later this year.
The event, held on Thursday, was a significant moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it marked its return to power in Delhi after 27 years. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and top leaders from NDA’s allied parties. However, the three senior Bihar leaders—key NDA allies—were conspicuously missing, raising questions about the alliance’s internal dynamics ahead of the crucial state elections.
Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) are vital partners of the BJP in Bihar. While JD(U) was represented at the ceremony by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh and JD(U) acting national President Sanjay Jha, the Chief Minister’s absence was particularly noticeable. Nitish was on a tour of Nalanda district as part of his Pragati Yatra in Bihar on the same day.
Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi were also missing from the event. In the recently concluded Delhi elections, JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas) were allotted the Burari and Deoli seats, respectively, but both candidates lost. Manjhi’s party was not given a seat to contest. Their absence from the swearing-in, despite NDA’s show of strength, has led to speculation about political equations within the alliance.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, who lost the Karakat Lok Sabha seat in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, was present at the event and greeted Prime Minister Modi. Seated in the first row, his presence stood in contrast to the absence of Nitish, Chirag, and Manjhi, further fueling discussions about NDA’s unity in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.
