Nitish Kumar assures Amit Shah: Will not repeat "mistake" of leaving BJP

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has assured Union Home Minister Amit Shah that he will "never again" sever ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), acknowledging that his past decisions to leave the alliance were "mistakes." With assembly elections in Bihar just a few months away, Kumar’s statement signals a firm commitment to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] president made this declaration at a public function in Patna, where he and Shah jointly unveiled several development projects of both the central and state governments. The event was marked by strong BJP support, with chants of "Jai Shri Ram" echoing through the crowd. Kumar, known for his secular stance, did not react to the slogans but emphasized the progress made under his leadership since 2005.

Shah, widely regarded as the BJP’s chief election strategist, had earlier addressed party workers, boosting their morale ahead of the elections. He reportedly asserted that a victory in Bihar would have a nationwide impact. Later in the day, he is expected to hold further discussions with NDA allies, including a closed-door meeting with Kumar.

Reflecting on his political realignments, Kumar admitted to making errors in distancing himself from the BJP in the past. He blamed “some people within his own party” for the break-ups but insisted that such missteps would not be repeated. His first split from the BJP occurred in 2014, but he realigned with the party in 2017. In 2022, he left the NDA again, attempting to build a nationwide opposition alliance under the INDIA bloc, only to return to the BJP-led coalition before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kumar took a swipe at his former allies, the RJD and Congress, accusing them of failing to maintain communal harmony and improve Bihar’s infrastructure when they were in power. He highlighted his government’s achievements in healthcare and education, claiming that Bihar had witnessed substantial progress under the JD(U)-BJP rule.

With Bihar’s political landscape heating up ahead of the elections, Kumar’s renewed commitment to the BJP is seen as a strategic move to consolidate the NDA’s position in the state. As both allies and opponents prepare for the polls, the focus remains on whether Kumar’s assurance will translate into a stable partnership with the BJP in the long run.