Amit Shah leads NDA push in Bihar, reiterates poll battle under Nitish's leadership

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remark that the NDA legislative party would decide Bihar’s next Chief Minister after the elections has triggered unease within the Janata Dal (United), even as the BJP moved quickly to contain speculation and project unity under the “Modi-Nitish” leadership.

- SHIKHA SALARIA/AGENCIES

Speaking at a media conclave in Delhi, Shah said, “Who am I to make someone the Chief Minister of Bihar? After the elections, all alliance partners will sit together and decide their leader. Right now, we are fighting under Nitish Kumar ji’s leadership.” The comment, though routine on the surface, has been read by Nitish loyalists as a signal of the BJP’s growing confidence and longstanding ambition to lead the government in Bihar. “Nitish Kumar will form whichever government he wants,” a senior JD(U) leader told The Daily Guardian, adding that the Chief Minister intends to keep “his options open” post-results. Hours after the comment set off political chatter, Shah met Nitish Kumar at his Patna residence for about 45 minutes, accompanied by BJP Bihar in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary and state president Dileep Jaiswal. Later that evening, Shah launched the BJP’s election campaign from Saran, praising Nitish Kumar for “freeing Bihar from jungle raj” and reaffirming that the NDA was contesting the polls under his leadership.