Nitish Kumar names Arunachal candidate unilaterally amid INDIA alliance strain

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar stirred political waters on Wednesday by unilaterally declaring the JD(U) candidate for Arunachal Pradesh in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This announcement came just a day before the scheduled meeting of the Congress National Alliance Committee in New Delhi, further worsening the apparent trust deficit between the two parties. The committee, responsible for facilitating seat-sharing discussions among the INDIA bloc allies, now faces a potential strain in relationships due to this unilateral move.

In a press release issued by JD(U) General Secretary and MLC Afaque Ahmad Khan, it was revealed that the party's candidate for the Arunachal West constituency would be Ruhi Tangung, the Arunachal Pradesh party president. This surprising move by Nitish Kumar has raised eyebrows, particularly as it occurred at a crucial juncture when the alliance committee was gearing up for discussions. The response from the Congress camp has been mixed, with AICC In-Charge of Bihar, Mohan Prakash, downplaying the impact on the alliance, while a senior Congress leader, speaking anonymously, hinted at raising the issue in the upcoming committee meeting.