NITISH KUMAR'S 'NDA PLANS' SPARK POLITICAL SPECULATION IN BIHAR

Sources confirmed that JDU and BJP were talking to each other.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

There is a possibility that newly appointed Janata Dal (United) national president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may re-join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) towards the end of the second week of January when the “inauspicious” period of Kharmas ends on 14 January, sources close to the CM have told The Sunday Guardian. BJP sources aware of the matter, while staying away from commenting on “when” the ghar-wapsi may happen, confirmed that JDU leaders and BJP were in talks to arrive at this political arrangement.

The reason Nitish is likely to give to his voters for breaking his ties with the Grand Alliance and rejoining the NDA is the Congress’ alleged “apathy” towards Nitish’s endeavour to complete the caste census in Bihar. Also, he is likely to talk about RJD leader Tejaswhi Yadav avoiding summons from the Enforcement Directorate, something that Nitish had done in July 2017 too, when he had broken off from the RJD.

The step taken by Nitish to reappoint himself as the party president and the statement made by party leaders and the resolutions passed at JDU National Executive in which Kumar’s “big stature” was highlighted, are being seen as pressure being put by Kumar on I.N.D.I.A leaders to give him a “respectable position” within the alliance in case his talks with the BJP do not work out.