An old video of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has resurfaced and gone viral, in which he emphatically states that he « would rather die than go to the NDA ». This statement was made on January 30, 2023, as a strong statement against any alliance with the BJP. However, since January 28, Kumar has resigned from the post of CM of Bihar and is expected to join the BJP again.
« I would rather die than stand with them (BJP). All these talks are false…they filed a case against Tejashwi and his father without any reason to side with them, » Nitish said in 2023. Kumar was reacting to the BJP’s announcement that they had no intention of forming an alliance with it.
The resurgence of this video has sparked intense debate and scrutiny of Nitish Kumar’s political integrity, given his history of switching allegiances. Notably, in August 2022, Kumar severed ties with the BJP and formed an alliance with the RJD. His political journey was marked by several such changes, starting in 1994 when he left Janata Dal to form the Samata Party with George Fernandes, then aligned with the BJP in 1996 and served as a minister in the cabinet of ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
To further complicate his trajectory, Kumar merged his Samata Party with Janata Dal (United) in 2003, broke a 17-year alliance with the NDA in 2013 following Narendra Modi’s candidacy for prime minister, and after a brief alliance with the RJD and Congress for the 2015 elections., returned to the NDA fold in 2017.
This development has led to increased political tensions in Bihar, with many leaders and citizens questioning the consistency and reliability of Nitish Kumar’s political commitments. The viral video has become a focal point of discussions on political loyalty and the future direction of governance in Bihar.
Preparations are in full swing for Nitish Kumar’s inauguration ceremony today at 5 p.m. The ceremony will include swearing-in of eight ministers, including two deputy chief ministers and six cabinet ministers. BJP president JP Nadda is expected to reach Patna around 4:15 p.m.
