Nitish Kumar took oath as the chief minister of the BJP-JD(U) government in Bihar on Sunday. This marks his ninth time taking the oath as chief minister, and his second time in just two years.
Kumar’s latest switch in alliances comes after he resigned from his previous position as chief minister of the RJD-JD(U) government earlier that day. His decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising his political manoeuvring and others criticizing his apparent lack of loyalty.
Those who support Kumar’s decision argue that he is simply putting the interests of Bihar first. They point to his record of development during his previous terms as chief minister, and argue that he is best positioned to lead the state to continued prosperity.
Kumar’s critics, on the other hand, accuse him of being opportunistic and power-hungry. They point to his frequent changes in alliances, and argue that he is more interested in holding onto power than in serving the people of Bihar.
Only time will tell what the ultimate impact of Kumar’s latest decision will be. However, it is clear that his move has shaken up the political landscape in Bihar, and will likely have far-reaching consequences for the state in the years to come.
Here are some of the key developments from Kumar’s oath-taking ceremony:
- Along with Kumar, BJP’s Samrat Choudhury and Vijay Sinha also took oath on Sunday.
- The RJD ministers are now out of the cabinet, as Kumar will form a new cabinet in the wake of the changed political equation in Bihar.
- Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the RJD, said that 2024 marks the end of the JD(U) and that the game in Bihar is far from over.
- Political strategist Prashant Kishor said that Kumar’s tryst with the BJP will be short-lived and that Bihar will again see changes within six months after the Lok Sabha election.
- Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, said that Kumar made a new record of betrayal and that the BJP is at its weakest now.
It remains to be seen whether Kumar’s latest move will be a success or a failure. However, one thing is for sure: it has made Bihar politics even more interesting to watch.