"No idea": RJD, BJP on speculations about Nitish Kumar rejoining NDA; parties hold key meetings

Patna (Bihar) [India], January 27 : Speculations continued for another day in a row over the Nitish Kumar-led JDU rejoining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with leaders from Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stating that even they are unaware of the exact situation unfolding in the State.
Both the RJD and the BJP held a series of key meetings on Saturday.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Saturday gathered at party supremo Lalu Prasad's home in Patna for an emergency meeting convened by Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.
Besides Lalu Prasad and his wife, Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, the meeting was attended by senior leaders, including members of the state legislature.
According to sources, Tejashwi Yadav told the leaders of the party present at the meeting that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is a "respectable figure" but there were many factors that were not under his "control."
The sources further said that Tejashwi had also hinted at many unexpected developments in the state.
"The Chief Minister used to sit with me on the stage and ask, "What was there in Bihar before 2005?" I never reacted. Now, more people are with us. Whatever remained undone in two decades, we managed to get it done within a short time- be it jobs, caste census, increasing reservation, etc. 'Bihar mein abhi khel hona baki hain' (The game is yet to begin in Bihar)," Yadav reportedly said.
RJD is the largest alliance partner in the 'Mahagathbandhan,' which includes Congress and three Left parties and falls eight members short of a majority in the assembly in the event of Kumar's JD(U) pulling out.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and daughter of the party's chief Lalu Yadav, Misa Bharti said on Saturday that she had 'no idea' about what has been going on in Bihar.
"I have no idea right now. Whatever is going on in the news is the only thing, other than that nobody has said anything. Whenever RJD comes to power, we have worked for the people of Bihar and we will keep working for them in the future also," Bharti told reporters in Bihar's Patna.
Meanwhile, the BJP also held a key meeting in Patna, which focused on the upcoming arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar in the month of February and the strategies for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
BJP leader Sanjay Jaiswal said on Saturday that discussions were held on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Bihar in the party's state core committee meeting in Patna.
Sanjay Jaiswal, also the former Bihar BJP chief, said that the Prime Minister will visit Bettiah in West Champaran district on February 4.
"PM Modi will come to Bettiah on February 4. Detailed discussions were held regarding that. This is a big event for people in Bihar. The public in Champaran is excited. I urged the senior party leaders in Bihar to be present there. We are expecting more than 2 lakh people in Bettiah," he said.
Bihar BJP leaders have scheduled a meeting over the weekend in Patna amid the current political situation in the state, with speculations rising about the possible realignment of the Nitish Kumar-led JDU with the NDA.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan who met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter's residence in the national capital, said the "situation is very positive regarding the alliance."
BJP National President JP Nadda was also present at the meeting at Shah's residence today. After the meeting, Paswan told reporters that more clarity over the prevailing political situation in the State would emerge in the next few days.
"It was important to know what is happening in Bihar today. On this issue, I held a meeting with Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji today. I have kept my concerns before them in Bihar. They have given assurance on various issues. The situation is very positive regarding the alliance. In the coming days, the situation will become more clear, and after that, our party will take a stand. We are a part of NDA today," Paswan said.
Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader KC Tyagi on Saturday held Congress responsible for cracks in the INDIA bloc and said that the alliance is now tattered and is headed towards its decline.
"There is a big possibility of Akali Dal and BJP coming together in Punjab and the possibility of a fight between Congress and AAP. Similarly, Akhilesh Yadav is also unhappy with the attitude of the Congress Party and has also suggested that they should behave more responsibly. The worst situation is in West Bengal, where Congress leaders want to hand over TMC's elected government to the President's rule. Chief Minister Mamata has further increased the controversy by not allowing Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. INDIA alliance that we had is now tattered and is headed towards its decline," Tyagi said.
On Bihar's political situation, BJP leader Hari Sahni said, "Khela to hoga. In the situation that has arisen (in Bihar), some results will come out. When it will come out, this cannot be said."
Bihar Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha said, "I have said this earlier also, whatever decision the party leadership will take, the party will welcome it. Every party worker will accept the decision of party leaders, like a soldier."
On Bihar's political situation, BJP Bihar President Samrat Chaudhary said, "Nitish Kumar has not resigned and nobody has withdrawn support. If something happens, then only we will have any information.BJP wants to know the situation of Bihar and then only we will take a decision."
Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.