Nitish Kumar resigns as Bihar CM, eighth resignation in his Political career; Comeback to BJP NDA certain and swear in as CM for the ninth time, Congress Calls him chameleon

JDU Chief Nitish Kumar has resigned as Bihar Chief Minister after days of political speculation, finally severing his ties with the coalition government with RJD and Congress in Bihar. The coalition with RJD lasted for close to 18 months since 2022 after he walked out of alliance with BJP, only to be sworn in as the Chief Minister for the 8th time and formed government with RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav as his deputy. In 2020 he had formed government after winning Bihar Assembly election along with BJP, this was his fifth ‘palti’ (flip flop) in over a decade. 

Nitish Kumar left his official residence little before 10.45am on Sunday, met with Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar and handed over his resignation. This was his eighth resignation in the political career. “Nothing was going right. You must have seen I was staying a little aloof. We had formed a coalition government in 2022. We worked for one and a half year. And you are seeing what’s going on in the state. So I discussed with our party leaders and I have now tendered my resignation. We were in a ‘gatbandhan’ (coalition) before and we will be in a coalition again soon to form the government”, said Nitish Kumar after giving his resignation, making his comeback to BJP led NDA alliance, almost certain. 

Nitish Kumar Changes sides: 

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In 2015 Nitish Kumar formed government in Bihar along with RJD and Congress. 

In July 2017, Nitish Kumar walked out of the alliance and joined hands with BJP, almost two years ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. 

In 2020 Bihar Assembly Election, Nitish Kumar once again became the Chief Minister after winning the election in alliance with NDA

But in two years, in 2022, the outgoing CM walked out of NDA, resigned and again formed government along with RJD and Congress 

Now, months before the 2024 Lok Sabha election Nitish Kumar in all likeness will join hands with BJP for the NDA alliance, yet again for Bihar assembly.

“What Nitish Kumar has done is political opportunism. He has betrayed the people of Bihar and the aspirations of the youth. Tejaswi Yadav was working in the interest of the youth of the state but for the sake of personal interests, Nitish Kumar dumped the alliance”, said Ejaz Ahmed, RJD spokesperson. 

Congress has slammed the outgoing CM and has drawn comparison with chameleon. “Nitish Kumar, who frequently changes political partners, is giving tough competition to the chameleons in changing colours. The people of Bihar will not forgive this betrayal and those who made them dance on their tune. It is quite clear that the Prime Minister and the BJP are scared of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and this political drama has been created to divert attention from it”, wrote Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on ‘X’

Nitish Kumar had organised the first opposition meeting in Patna in June 2023, the formation was later named as INDIA alliance bloc. His exit from Bihar alliance and naturally from INDIA bloc is an embarrassment for the claims of an ‘united opposition’. “Nothing was happening with the alliance”, said Nitish Kumar on Sunday while ducking questions if his move was political opportunism. Nitish Kumar is expected to swear in as the CM on Sunday evening for the ninth time due to his multiple flip-flops. RJD is currently the single-largest party in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, with 79 MLAs but 43 short of the halfway mark - 122.

Bihar Assembly Number Breakdown: 

BJP - 78 MLAs

JD(U) - 45

Congress - 19

CPI (M-L) - 12

Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) - 4

CPI - 2

CPI (M) - 2

AIMIM - 1

Independent MLA - 1