Nitish Kumar’s surprise ‘praise’ creates a flutter, BJP says ‘no personal enmity’

Referring to BJP leaders at an event, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that “the friendship and relationship will remain for as long as I am alive”.

A rare praise for the Narendra Modi government at the same event created a political flutter as Nitish Kumar appeared to openly flirt with ex-ally and rival BJP.

“All the people we have here are our friends. We are different, you are different. Does it mean our friendship will end? You will remain connected to me as long as I live. We will all work together,” Nitish Kumar said while speaking at the convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari.

President Droupadi Murmu, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath and BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh were on stage when the JD(U) chief made the remarks.

Nitish Kumar, who spearheaded a campaign to unite the Opposition that culminated in the INDIA alliance to take on the BJP, also credited the Centre for setting up the central university in Motihari. Surprisingly, the Chief Minister didn’t hold back as he blamed the UPA government led by Congress – now ally – for not acting on his proposal, adding that the situation changed only after a new government (NDA) came to power in 2014.

Ally RJD played down Nitish Kumar’s remarks, with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav asking reporters to not read much into what the Chief Minister said. “Everyone meets with everyone, regardless of which political party they belong to,” the RJD leader said.

Nitish Kumar has broken away from an alliance with the BJP twice in the past, once in 2013 and then in 2022. In 2013, he ended a 17-year alliance with the BJP. Then in 2022, he walked out of the BJP-led NDA alliance to join RJD chief Lalu Yadav.