Bihar abuzz ahead of key JD(U) meet today

The future of the Grand Alliance hung by a thread on Saturday as a change of guard appeared imminent in Bihar, with hectic parleys continuing through the day in Patna as well as the national capital, people aware of the developments said.

Legislators emerging from an informal meeting of chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) indicated that a return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could happen as early as Sunday, when the proposal is set to be tabled at a crucial meeting.

People familiar with the consultations between the JD(U) and the BJP said the latter proposed the names of Renu Devi and Tarkishore Prasad for the posts of deputy chief minister, but it is likely that Prasad may be replaced by Sushil Modi who is preferred by Kumar.

“There is a chance that both BJP and JD(U) MLAs may come together at the CM’s house on Sunday, where a final announcement will be made if Nitish gives the go-ahead,” one of the people cited above said.

If Kumar makes the switch, it will be his fourth such move in the past decade and the second this term.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said, “The INDIA bloc is on the verge of collapse. The alliance is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar,” and added that he could not see how the INDIA bloc parties could fight the “all-powerful” BJP. “Kumar never hankered after a position in the alliance (INDIA), but a section of the Congress leadership repeatedly insulted him,” he said.

The developments came as other constituents of the Mahagathbandhan appeared to display a united front, with the Rashtriya Janata Party remaining tight-lipped on the evolving situation, and the Congress hailing Kumar as the architect of the larger INDIA bloc.

But, HT has learned that Kumar did not take calls from either RJD chief Lalu Prasad or Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.