Bihar

Both the leaders sat in one car to reach the Raj Bhavan. Besides them, JD-U leaders Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Shrawan Kumar and other leaders were also present. Earlier, Nitish Kumar met the Governor to submit his resignation and then straight away, went to Rabri Devi's residence at 10 Circular Road to meet Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders of the Mahagatbandhan.

The promise of five lakh jobs for the youths is also one of the key points of RJD's reunion with JD(U). The RJD had mooted the idea of public welfare and its manifesto had promised 10 lakh jobs. "The first decision will be the announcement of jobs," said an insider, who claimed that there are no differences on the power sharing arrangements. The Congress is likely to get a ministerial berth after a formula was evolved during the discussions while the Left parties may extend their support from the outside.

All the RJD MLAs, MLCs and MPs have been asked to attend the meeting and the party's top leadership has directed them not to carry mobile phones at the venue. Bhai Virendra, senior RJD MLA from the Maner constituency in Patna district said: "At present we are going for the meeting. It's up to Tejashwi Yadav and state president Jagadanand Singh to decide the future course of action. Following their direction, we will give statements publically."

Reacting on the present political development of Bihar, Shivanand Tiwari, the vice president of RJD told IANS: "It is a good indication not only for the RJD but for the people of the entire state if CM Nitish Kumar forms a new government with the support of Mahagathbandhan. Now, it's up to Nitish Kumar to take the decision. We have to wait for the move of Nitish Kumar. His moves will decide the fate of Bihar and Bihari people."

"At present, no one knows what's in store for Bihar. Even if Nitish Kumar manages to secure his seat after negotiating with the Mahagathbandhan leaders, still, he would not be able to complete his tenure till 2025. The leaders of Mahagathbandhan are over ambitious which would lead to mid term Assembly elections," Paswan asserted.

State Education Minister and JD-U leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said: "We are not going to join the Narendra Modi cabinet. The JD-U needed the desired respect from the BJP but it did not happen. Hence we have decided to avoid inclusion in the Narendra Modi government." However, he added that this decision "will not affect our alliance with BJP in Bihar".

The party has asked RCP Singh to clarify how the registries of 58 plots have been done in the names of himself, his daughters - Saharsa SP Lipi Singh and Lata Singh, and family members. The party has mentioned that RCP Singh was associated with Nitish Kumar as a bureaucrat and has served as two time Rajya Sabha MP, party's national president, organisational secretary of the party as well as union minister in the Central government.

"BJP respects its alliance partners. Hence, it will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election with the same alliance in Bihar. Even, the 2025 Vidhan Sabha election will be also contested in similar fashion," Singh said during the interaction with media persons after the end of two-day Joint National Executive Meeting (JNEM) of the party here.

Harish Dwivedi, who arrived in Patna on Thursday, said: "The party organisation officials are staying in 200 Assembly constituencies in Bihar on July 28 and 29 to take feedback of the people. If necessary, we (BJP) will not hesitate to hold a "Prawas programme" in all 243 Assembly constituencies in future."

R.C.P. Singh claimed that his birth place is in Nalanda district while the birthplace of Nitish Kumar is Bakhtiyarpur in Patna district. "The native village of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is in Nalanda but his birth place is Bakhtiyarpur in Patna district while my birth place is in my native place in Nalanda district. Hence, there is a difference between me and CM Nitish Kumar," he said in Jehanabad, where he had come for a personal event.