New Delhi/Patna
Janata Dal (United) President Nitish Kumar quit the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar on Sunday (Jan 28) and submitted his resignation as chief minister to Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan.
"We have decided to sever ties with the Mahagathbandhan in the state," Kumar told Governor Arlekar.
Hours later, Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar chief minister, this time along with two deputy chief ministers from the BJP, its new alliance partner in the state.
Kumar's Janata Dal (United) is now part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the spring.
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Jan 28, 2024 13:39 IST
Watch: BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy says alliance will sweep Lok Sabha elections in Bihar
#WATCH | BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy says, "There was a need for a big change in Bihar. A good atmosphere is being seen in Bihar. This is good for Bihar. We will sweep the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar..." pic.twitter.com/RTVREqhZ1m
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 13:23 IST
Nitish Kumar has 'murdered' hopes of Bihar by switching sides: Tejashwi Yadav
In the first reaction to ally Nitish Kumar's exit from 'INDIA' alliance, and reconstitution of the Bihar government with BJP-led NDA, the outgoing deputy CM of the state Tejashwi Yadav accused Kumar of 'murdering' the hopes of the people by switching the sides.
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Jan 28, 2024 13:18 IST
'I am back where I was before': Nitish Kumar after taking oath as Bihar CM
Reacting to the RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's statement that the "JDU will be finished in 2024", Nitish Kumar said: "We work for the development and progress of Bihar. We will keep doing the same, nothing else. Tejashwi was not doing anything. Now I am back where I was before (in NDA) and now there is no question of going anywhere."
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Jan 28, 2024 12:46 IST
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulates Nitish Kumar
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to his official X account and wrote, "Congratulations to Nitish Kumar on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar and Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha on taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister. My best wishes to this new team to start a new chapter of development and public welfare in Bihar."
बिहार के मुख्यमंत्री पद की पुनः शपथ लेने पर श्री @NitishKumar और उप मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ लेने वाले सम्राट चौधरी जी एवं विजय सिन्हा जी को बधाई। यह नई टीम बिहार में विकास और जनकल्याण का नया अध्याय प्रारंभ करे, इसके लिए सभी को मेरी शुभकामनाएँ। @samrat4bjp @VijayKrSinhaBih
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 12:44 IST
'We fulfill our responsibility with honesty,' says JDU's Vijay Kumar Chaudhary
#WATVH | Bihar: "...Whenever we get a responsibility we try to fulfil it with all honesty...," says JDU's Vijay Kumar Chaudhary after taking oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government. pic.twitter.com/XGhCwqqbq1
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 12:27 IST
PM Modi congratulates Nitish Kumar and new Bihar government
बिहार में बनी एनडीए सरकार राज्य के विकास और यहां के लोगों की आकांक्षाओं को पूरा करने के लिए कोई कोर-कसर नहीं छोड़ेगी। @NitishKumar जी को मुख्यमंत्री और सम्राट चौधरी जी एवं विजय सिन्हा जी को उप मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ लेने पर मेरी बहुत-बहुत बधाई।
मुझे विश्वास है कि यह टीम पूरे…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 28, 2024
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Nitish Kumar, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha on taking oath as CM, Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar "The NDA government formed in Bihar will leave no stone unturned for the development of the state and to fulfil the aspirations of its people...," tweets PM Modi.
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Jan 28, 2024 12:10 IST
Eight leaders took oath as cabinet ministers in Nitish Kumar government
A total of eight leaders took oath as cabinet ministers in the new government led by Nitish Kumar.
Three from BJP – Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Sinha, Prem Kumar. Three from JDU – Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Shrawon Kumar and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) President Santosh Kumar Suman and independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh took oath as ministers.
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Jan 28, 2024 12:04 IST
Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh takes oath as a minister
#WATCH | Bihar: Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh takes oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government pic.twitter.com/uMZNLjPDqH
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 12:03 IST
'Nitish Kumar cheated', says Congress leader TS Singh Deo
#WATCH | Congress leader TS Singh Deo says, "Definitely he (Nitish Kumar) cheated... If his aim was to remain the chief minister and work with the BJP, he could have done it earlier also, the numbers were there earlier too. His motive for coming here was that he does not agree… pic.twitter.com/PVnYTzffk5
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 12:02 IST
Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Dr Santosh Kumar Suman takes oath as a minister
#WATCH | Bihar: Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) president Dr Santosh Kumar Suman takes oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government pic.twitter.com/XS05ObMtId
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 12:01 IST
JDU's Shrawon Kumar takes oath as a minister
#WATCH | Bihar: JDU's Shrawon Kumar takes oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government pic.twitter.com/Ffw15p7YtV
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:54 IST
BJP's Dr Prem Kumar takes oath as a minister
#WATCH | Bihar: BJP's Dr Prem Kumar takes oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government pic.twitter.com/syIkSnKaIf
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:54 IST
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge reacts to BJP-JD(U) alliance
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: On BJP-JD(U) alliance, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says, "This shows that it was all pre-planned. To break the INDIA alliance they (BJP-JD(U)) planned all this... He (Nitish Kumar) kept us in the dark, he kept Lalu Yadav in the dark..." pic.twitter.com/mgeQoSz0ZS
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:51 IST
JDU's Bijendra Prasad Yadav takes oath as a minister
#WATCH | Bihar: JDU's Bijendra Prasad Yadav takes oath as a minister in the new Nitish Kumar-led government pic.twitter.com/so1qhgVhvM
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:49 IST
JDU's Vijay Kumar Chaudhary takes oath as a minister
#WATCH | Bihar: JDU's Vijay Kumar Chaudhary takes oath as a minister in new Nitish Kumar-led government pic.twitter.com/DZu3WkfXqw
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:47 IST
BJP leader Vijay Sinha takes oath as a cabinet minister
#WATCH | Bihar: BJP leader Vijay Sinha takes oath as a cabinet minister. pic.twitter.com/Dkk9wXQHNR
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:46 IST
The JDU chief takes oath as CM, reconstitutes government with BJP
#WATCH | Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for the 9th time after he along with his party joined the BJP-led NDA bloc. pic.twitter.com/ePGsqvusM3
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:45 IST
BJP's Samrat Choudhary takes oath as the minister of Bihar
#WATCH | BJP's Samrat Choudhary takes oath as a Cabinet Minister. pic.twitter.com/o3G9mfOfuJ
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:38 IST
Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM
#WATCH | Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for the 9th time after he along with his party joined the BJP-led NDA bloc.#BiharPolitics pic.twitter.com/v9HPUQwhl3
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:37 IST
BJP national president JP Nadda meets Governor Rajendra Arlekar, in Patna
#WATCH | Bihar: BJP national president JP Nadda meets Governor Rajendra Arlekar, in Patna
Nitish Kumar today resigned as CM and joined the BJP-led NDA bloc. pic.twitter.com/Ic2e9gFLoo
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:37 IST
BJP Bihar president Samrat Chaudhary, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan and other leaders arrive at Raj Bhavan
#WATCH | BJP Bihar president Samrat Chaudhary, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan and other leaders arrive at Raj Bhavan, in Patna to attend the oath ceremony of the new government.
Nitish Kumar today resigned as CM and joined the BJP-led NDA bloc. pic.twitter.com/wnzb0IPVCy
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:36 IST
BJP's Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha at the oath ceremony of the new government
#WATCH | BJP's Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha at the oath ceremony of the new government, in Raj Bhavan, Patna
They are likely to take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar. pic.twitter.com/hiQZsjkf67
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:28 IST
Patna: JD(U) President and acting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan, Patna
#WATCH | Patna: JD(U) President and acting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan
He will take oath as Bihar CM for the 9th time after he along with his party joined the BJP-led NDA bloc. pic.twitter.com/28WJAkklQj
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 11:02 IST
'He was a tired CM', says RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Nitish Kumar joining NDA
#WATCH | On Nitish Kumar joining NDA and breaking ties with RJD, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "He was a tired CM. Khel abhi shuru huai, khel abhi baki hain. I can give you in writing that the JDU party will be finished in 2024. The public is with us..." pic.twitter.com/yQfQmodkEh
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 10:11 IST
Poster featuring Nitish Kumar that reads "Nitish sab ke hain" put up near the CM's residence in Patna
#WATCH | Poster featuring Nitish Kumar that reads "Nitish sab ke hain" put up near the CM's residence in Patna after Nitish Kumar today resigned as CM and joined the BJP-led NDA bloc#BiharPolitics pic.twitter.com/W3XvLggto7
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 09:29 IST
'Oath ceremony will take place at 5 pm': Vijay Sinha
Deputy Leader of Bihar BJP legislative party, Vijay Sinha - who is likely to take oath as Deputy CM today - says, "The oath ceremony will take place at 5 pm. All the MLAs will be present there. I thank everyone."
Source: ANI
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Jan 28, 2024 09:11 IST
Eight ministers will take oath with Nitish Kumar: Reports
According to media reports, eight ministers will take oath with Nitish Kumar, and will have ministers from JD(U), BJP and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular).
This comes as several media reports citing officials have said Choudhary and Sinha will be named as deputy CMs while Kumar will be named as the chief minister.
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Jan 28, 2024 08:33 IST
'Determined to re-establish good governance': Vijay Sinha
Deputy Leader of Bihar BJP legislative party, Vijay Sinha, who will possibly become the state's deputy chief minister later today said, "We are determined to re-establish good governance by giving a farewell to RJD."
#WATCH | Patna | Deputy Leader of Bihar BJP legislative party, Vijay Sinha - who is likely to take oath as Deputy CM today - says, "We are determined to re-establish good governance by giving a farewell to RJD." pic.twitter.com/EgltEWaW1W
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 08:10 IST
WATCH | Bihar: Opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance falls apart as Nitish Kumar switches over
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Jan 28, 2024 07:30 IST
Bihar CM and deputy CMs from BJP likely to take oath today: Report
CM Nitish Kumar and two Deputy CMs from BJP likely to take oath today: Bihar BJP Sources
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 07:14 IST
BJP's Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha to be deputy CMs: Spokesperson
#WATCH | Bihar BJP Spokesperson Sumit Shashank says, "...Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha to be the Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar..."#biharpolitcs pic.twitter.com/aChRQB4yh5
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 07:08 IST
'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' people: INDIA bloc chairperson Mallikarjun Kharge about Nitish's resignation
VIDEO | "The country has many 'Aaya Ram Gaya Ram' people (like him)": Here's what Congress President @kharge said after Nitish Kumar resigned as Bihar CM and decided to leave INDIA Alliance. #NitishKumar #BiharPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/04FfczYAuw
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 06:45 IST
'I was hurt. I left the INDIA Alliance': Nitish Kumar after resigning
VIDEO | "I was hurt. I left the INDIA Alliance": Here's what Nitish Kumar said after resigning as Bihar CM earlier today. #NitishKumar #BiharPoliticalCrisis pic.twitter.com/M9qvhYpwvu
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 06:32 IST
What was left with him?: RJD reacts to Nitish's decision
#WATCH | After the resignation of Nitish Kumar as the CM of Bihar, RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari says, "What was left with him? Public is the master. It watches everything and it will demand an account for everything...The work done by Tejashwi Yadav - janata ke beech jayenge aur… pic.twitter.com/K2adCA59Bq
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 06:23 IST
Knew this would happen: Congress chief on Nitish quitting Grand Alliance
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Sunday that he knew that Nitish Kumar would quit the Grand Alliance in Bihar.
"Earlier, he and us were fighting together. When I talked to Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, they also said that Nitish is going. If he (Nitish) wanted to stay, he would have stayed but he wants to go. That's why we already knew this, but to keep the INDIA bloc intact, if we say something wrong, the wrong message will be sent," Kharge said.
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Jan 28, 2024 06:16 IST
After resigning, Nitish now made acting CM by guv
Following his resignation from the CM's post, Nitish Kumar has now been appointed as the acting CM by the governor.
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Jan 28, 2024 05:51 IST
Nitish Kumar quits ruling Grand Alliance in Bihar, submits resignation
Nitish Kumar has quit the ruling Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in Bihar and submitted his resignation as chief minister to Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday (Jan 28), the news agency ANI reported.
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Jan 28, 2024 05:38 IST
Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan to meet governor
#WATCH | Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar arrives at the Raj Bhavan in Patna. pic.twitter.com/xq6FWg67lr
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 05:26 IST
Political development in Bihar still unfurling: BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy
BJP's Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters on Sunday that the political development in Bihar was still unfurling. "Once it happens, we shall know exactly what is there. But having said that whatever good for Bihar is welcome, that is what we (BJP) think because we all have great faith in the leadership of honourable PM (Modi) and Bihar has to come along with it," he added.
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Jan 28, 2024 05:22 IST
JD(U) leaders authorise Nitish Kumar to take any decision
All JD(U) leaders authorised CM and party president Nitish Kumar to take any decision, as their meeting got underway in Patna, the news agency ANI reported.
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Jan 28, 2024 04:56 IST
Meeting of state BJP unit underway
A meeting of Bihar BJP MLAs and leaders of the party is underway at the party office in Patna amid the political crisis in Bihar.
#WATCH | A meeting of Bihar BJP MLAs and leaders of the party is underway at the party office in Patna, amid political developments in the state.
The legislative party meeting is underway here pic.twitter.com/LoRdSg0ojL
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 04:27 IST
We will stand by Nitish on whatever he decides in meeting: JD(U) leader
#WATCH | Patna: On the current political situation in Bihar, JDU MP Leshi Singh says, "Meetings keep happening. Whatever will be decided in today's meeting by our leader, CM Nitish Kumar, in favour of the party and the state, we will stand by him..." pic.twitter.com/bpxGRpZFwm
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 03:52 IST
Nitish likely to resign today, new govt with BJP to be in place by evening: Report
Nitish Kumar is likely to step down from the CM's post today and leave Mahagathbandhan, the news agency PTI reported on Sunday citing a source. At 10 am, Kumar will address JD(U) legislators before going to Raj Bhavan to submit his resignation" and formation of a new government, with the BJP's support, was "expected by the evening," the source added.
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Jan 28, 2024 03:21 IST
The many political U-turns of Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar has switched between political alliances during his tenure as Bihar's chief minister. He first became CM in 2000 at the behest of the then Vajpayee government at the centre, but stepped down from the post a few days later.
In 2005, the JD(U) won the assembly election with the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) support and Kumar became CM.
In the next election in 2010, Kumar again became CM with the NDA's support.
However, in the 2015 assembly election, Kumar joined hands with the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) with the Congress and the RJD to win the election. Kumar became CM and Tejwashi Yadav became his deputy.
Two years later in 2017, when corruption charges were levelled against Yadav, Kumar asked him to resign. Yadav's party the RJD refused to do so, and then Kumar stepped down, hence ending the Grand Alliance.
But just a few hours later, Kumar jumped ship to the NDA and came back to power.
In his sixth term as CM in 2020, Kumar won the assembly election with the NDA's support. But in Aug 2022, he parted ways with the NDA and rejoined the Mahagathbandhan, appointing Tejashwi Yadav as the deputy CM of Bihar.
Another U-turn from Kumar is expected yet again.
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Jan 28, 2024 02:59 IST
Nitish made no compromise with governance, says JD(U) leader
#WATCH | On Bihar political situation and speculations around Nitish Kumar, JD (U) MLC Neeraj Kumar says, "...Nitish Kumar is appreciated. He didn't compromise with governance. RJD is hurt that Nitish Kumar made a large number of appointments but this was done without any… pic.twitter.com/xjHFLsozt4
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2024
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Jan 28, 2024 02:36 IST
JD(U) MLAs to hold meeting today as CM Nitish seeks time to meet guv
JD(U) MLAs will hold a meeting on Sunday as their leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sought time for a separate meeting with the governor, the news agency ANI reported citing sources.
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Jan 28, 2024 02:29 IST
JD(U) leader holds Congress responsible for cracks in INDIA bloc
JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on Saturday held the Congress party responsible for cracks in the INDIA bloc. According to a report by the news agency ANI, Tyagi said the INDIA bloc was not tattered and was headed towards its decline.
It is not yet known what the JD(U) will do next: part ways with the INDIA and join the NDA or something else.
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Jan 28, 2024 02:24 IST
'CM Nitish is a respectable figure, but...': Tejashwi Yadav
Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav convened an emergency meeting with RJD leaders in Patna on Saturday. During the meeting, Yadav said that CM Nitish Kumar was a respectable figure but many factors were not under his control. Yadav also hinted at many unexpected developments in the state.
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Jan 28, 2024 02:19 IST
CM Nitish seeks time to meet governor today
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has sought time to meet Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday as the political crisis in the state is intensifying.