Nitish Kumar set to oust RJD ministers, replace them with BJP representatives: insider sources
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Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is reportedly poised to remove ministers affiliated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), an alliance partner led by Lalu Yadav, and replace them with representatives from the BJP.
An agreement on seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha election has also been finalised between the BJP and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) or JD(U). This move comes three months before the scheduled Lok Sabha polls.
Sources reveal that all BJP MLAs in Bihar have already expressed their support for Nitish Kumar, signalling a significant development in the dynamics of the alliance government involving the RJD and the Congress, reported NDTV.
The JD(U) chief, who joined the Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance in August 2022 after parting ways with the BJP, is now reportedly in direct talks with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to iron out the finer details of this political manoeuvre.
To signify the strengthened alliance, Nitish Kumar is planning to host a lunch for JD(U) and BJP MLAs at his residence, following which the MLAs from both parties will submit letters of support to the Governor, as per sources.
It is anticipated that Nitish Kumar will appoint BJP representatives to fill the void left by the dismissed RJD ministers. Additionally, he is likely to play a significant role in selecting a new Deputy Chief Minister, hinting at the potential departure of the current deputy, Tejashwi Yadav, who is the son of Lalu Yadav.
Sources suggested to NDTV that Nitish Kumar may secure a prominent role at the national level after 2025.