Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) JD(U) has affirmed its commitment to the INDIA coalition, dispelling rumors of a potential return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). State JD(U) president Umesh Singh Kushwaha clarified that the party remains firmly aligned with the coalition, rejecting media speculations.
Kushwaha emphasized that there is no truth to the rumors circulating, including claims that party MLAs were instructed to rush to Patna. He downplayed the significance of Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, deputy chief minister and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), sitting apart at the Republic Day parade, stating that the JD(U) is firmly with the INDIA coalition.
However, Kushwaha urged the Congress, an alliance partner, to introspect on its approach toward other constituents and the sharing of seats. Nitish Kumar has consistently stressed the need for an early finalization of the seat-sharing deal, particularly with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The statement from JD(U) comes amidst discussions and negotiations within the opposition bloc INDIA, where partners like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have ruled out alliances with the Congress in West Bengal and Punjab, respectively. While addressing the delay in seat-sharing, state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh pointed out that even the BJP-led NDA is yet to finalize seat-sharing with its allies.
(With Agency Inputs)
