The JD(U) party, led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar, is worried about the recent political changes in Maharashtra. There, Eknath Shinde was taken out of his job as Chief Minister, and now Devendra Fadnavis is back in charge. The BJP, part of the ruling alliance, has promised that Nitish Kumar will lead Bihar in the 2025 assembly elections. However, JD(U) leaders fear that the BJP might try to push Nitish aside if they get close to winning a majority in the 243-seat assembly.
Although JD(U) leaders haven’t spoken openly about this, some senior members are nervous about what the BJP might do. They remember how, in Maharashtra, Shinde was the choice for Chief Minister but was removed after the BJP gained a majority.
Inside JD(U), the big worry is if the BJP will try to replace Nitish Kumar if they reach the important 122-seat mark needed for a majority in Bihar. In the last assembly elections in 2020, JD(U) got only 43 seats, while the BJP won 74. Still, Nitish was made Chief Minister thanks to the support of the BJP leaders, even though he felt uneasy about accepting the role due to his party’s weakness.
Some believe the situation in Bihar is different. A JD(U) leader mentioned that unlike Shinde, Nitish has strong support from the people in Bihar. He highlighted that JD(U)’s vote share is very important to the NDA alliance’s strength in the state.
JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar emphasized that Nitish’s position in Bihar is significant, regardless of differing opinions. Political experts think the BJP won’t replace him since there’s no good alternative. They argue that if Nitish leaves the NDA, it could create serious problems for the BJP.
JD(U) has also shown it is not pleased with the BJP on specific social and political issues. For example, JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad criticized a recent decision in Assam to ban beef consumption, saying it could lead to societal divisions and calling for individual rights.
As the political situation in Bihar develops, JD(U) is keeping a close watch on the BJP’s actions ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, knowing their future might depend on how well the NDA operates together.
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