Bihar Election Results: The NDA had announced Nitish Kumar as its main ministerial candidate. (Archive)
Patna (Bihar):
The decision on whether Nitish Kumar would win another term as Bihar’s chief minister will be announced today after a meeting of lawmakers from the National Democratic Alliance, which won the majority in the recently concluded assembly elections in the state.
“Things will be discussed in detail (at the legislative party meeting) and all decisions will be made at that time,” Kumar told reporters on Friday after a meeting of NDA leaders at his residence on Friday.
Despite assurances from the BJP that Nitish Kumar would retain the position, the dismal performance of his Janata Dal United has called him into question.
Out of 71 seats in 2015, the JD (U), the older brother in the state alliance for decades, was only able to win 43 seats in this election, far behind the 74 that the BJP won.
The numbers are seen as a mandate for the ruling alliance, but against Kumar as the prime minister. He has also given a handle to a section of the BJP, which had reservations about its position of power.
After the elections, Nitish Kumar had said that the NDA will decide who will be the Chief Minister, a statement seen as a sign of nervousness over the change in fortunes.
The other factor in the situation is Chirag Paswan, an NDA ally whose rebellion against Kumar’s leadership and the subsequent solo contest cut off JD (U) ‘s votes. As the BJP did nothing to contain him, critics said his rebellion had the tacit support of the party.
Questions are now being raised as to whether Paswan, who was fighting for a “Nitish-Mukt Bihar (Free Bihar of the Netherlands), would continue to be part of the ruling combined in the state.
The BJP, before the elections, said that anyone who does not accept the leadership of Nitish Kumar will not be considered part of the NDA.
The inaction of the BJP had greatly upset Kumar, who expressed his bitterness after the elections, saying: “It is up to the BJP to decide the fate of those who cut the votes.”
On Thursday, opposition Tejashwi Yadav, whose Rashtriya Janata Dal turned out to be the largest party with 75 seats, attacked Kumar, saying voters made it clear they wanted change.
“See where Nitish Kumar’s brilliance has gone. He’s been pushed into third place. This is a mandate for change,” he had said.
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