Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) veteran leader Manoj Jha on Tuesday sent chills to the BJP camp after he hinted that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar may be having a change of heart and can rejoin the INDIA alliance. With Lok Sabha Election Results 2024 yet to be declared, it is almost confirmed that BJP may not cross the majority 272 marks. Therefore, in order to make the government, the BJP will be needing the support of both the Nitish Kumar-led JDU and Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party. Interestingly, reports suggest that INDIA bloc leaders have dialed Nitish Kumar and has offered him Deputy PM post to rejoin their alliance and part ways with the NDA. Below is what Manoj Jha said-
"The claim of 400 paar has been blown away. BJP itself is not close to majority mark. 2-2.5 lakh votes have been counted on all the 40 seats in Bihar whereas 9.5-10 lakh are to be counted. The counting is slow in Bihar. I would request the ECI to ensure the pace of counting as it is in other parts of the country. Nitish Kumar was in INDIA alliance. There should be an alternative. His politics is about fight against fascist. As Tejashwi Yadav said, anything can happen after today. The UP has made it clear that the issues are inflation and unemployment."
"It is final that Modi ji will not return to power as India's PM. After June 4, Nitish ji may take a big decision. Because leaders like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu have never supported the vendetta politics. We have worked with both of them," added Manoj Jha.
The Nitish Kumar Puzzle for BJP
In order to break PM Modi's hattrick, reports suggest that the INDIA block has offered the Deputy PM's post to JDU Supremo Nitish Kumar. A news portal quoted a source in the known development that the INDIA bloc has approached TDP and JDU as well. The source added that Nitish Kumar has been offered a Deputy PM post. Notably, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has already endorsed Rahul Gandhi's name as the PM face of the INDIA bloc.
Interestingly, on Monday, PM Modi and Amit Shah held private meeting with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in New Delhi. While the counting for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 was going on, PM Modi dialed Chandrababu Naidu. Thereafter it was reported that Chandrababu Naidu will be Andhra Pradesh's new Chief Minister. Indications are quite clear, BJP is trying hard that INDIA bloc does not break its NDA alliance. However, seeing Nitish Kumar's flip-flop history nothing can said until or unless Narendra Modi takes oath as PM of India for the third time.