Political Tensions Mount as Nitish-Tejashwi Attend Republic Day Program Without Dialogue; Bihar CM Summons Party MLAs to Patna, Sushil Modi Keeps Door Open

Patna: Bihar finds itself in the throes of a political crisis as the rift between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal United (JDU) deepens, spurred by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s recent remarks on nepotism in politics. The strains were palpable during the Republic Day program at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on January 26, where CM Nitish and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, though present, maintained a visible distance. The two leaders participated in the event but left without engaging in any communication, underscoring the escalating tensions.

The situation suggests a potential seismic shift in the political landscape, with today, Friday, looming as a crucial day. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to meet with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at 3:30 pm, and there are indications that he might make a significant decision regarding the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance. Meanwhile, Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Ramchandra Purve visited Lalu Yadav’s residence in the morning, adding to the speculation surrounding the unfolding political drama.

In a significant development, former Deputy CM Sushil Modi remarked on Nitish Kumar’s potential alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated that political doors are never permanently closed for anyone and that if they close, they also open.

Sources reveal that all JDU MLAs have been summoned to Patna by evening, while the BJP has instructed its MLAs to converge in the capital. BJP legislators have been arriving in Patna since the night, heightening expectations of pivotal political maneuvers.

Jitan Ram Manjhi, the patron of the HAM Party, weighed in on the situation, questioning Nitish Kumar’s approach towards the Congress and RJD. He suggested that unity should prevail in such circumstances, asserting that if Nitish Kumar opts to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), they would not oppose the move. Manjhi intriguingly posed the question on social media platform X – “Will it be done today itself? Khela aur ka….”

Simultaneously, Chirag Paswan, the National President of LJP (Ram Vilas), convened a late-night meeting with national and state party officials. Speaking to journalists before the meeting, Paswan indicated that they are closely monitoring the political activities in Bihar, adding another layer of anticipation to the unfolding political drama. The eyes of the nation are on Bihar, awaiting the outcome of the high-stakes political deliberations.