Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) [India] : Hours after Nitish Kumar severed his ties with the ruling Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, a decision also being seen as a big blow to the unity of the INDIA bloc, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Nitish Kumar saying that the Janata Dal (United) supremo gives a tough challenge to chameleons and that his move will instead further strengthen the opposition’s alliance, formed to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications said that all this ‘drama’ has been done to divert people’s attention from his party MP Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
“It is not surprising that Nitish Kumar has resigned. He is a seasoned politician. He has been a Chief Minister for several years. But he keeps changing his political colours. He gives a tough challenge to chameleons. People of Bihar will give a befitting reply to him and to those who are making him dance from Delhi. It is clear that the BJP, Prime Minister and Home Minister are perturbed by the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra…This drama has been done to divert attention from the Yatra…I would like to say that Nitish Kumar is an expert in betrayal,” Jairam Ramesh said.
He said, “This will not have any impact on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. INDIA bloc will be further strengthened, Mamata Banerjee has herself said this. This (Nitish Kumar’s resignation) will further upset people and I think the people of Bihar will teach the right lesson to Nitish Kumar and the BJP in the election…I agree that this will be in the headlines for a day or two, it doesn’t look good that Nitish Kumar had called the first meeting (of INDIA Alliance) in Patna…he attended all meetings. But like I said, Nitish Kumar gives a tough competition to chameleons.”
However, in his first reaction to the political turmoil after handing over his resignation letter to the Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Nitish Kumar said the state of affairs in the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance) formed one and a half years ago was ‘not good’.
“I resigned as chief minister and requested the Governor to dissolve the government. The situation came to this pass as the state of affairs within the ruling alliance in Bihar wasn’t good. I sought the advice and opinions of everyone before coming to this decision. I took all opinions and suggestions to heart. The government is being dissolved today,” Nitish told reporters after walking out of the Raj Bhavan.
The fast-changing political events in the state were triggered by a social media post from former CM and RJD chief Lalu Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, in which she took a swipe at the JD(U) saying that while the ‘socialist party’ styles itself as progressive, its ideology shifts with the changing wind patterns.
As per sources, in the latest development, Nitish will take oath as the Chief Minister for the ninth time along with two deputy chief ministers from the BJP at the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, Acharya after Kumar’s big move, in a cryptic post on X wrote, “Garbage goes back into the dustbin. Happy stinking garbage to the group!”
