Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday formally endorsed Narendra Modi for a third term as Prime Minister during a meeting of the newly-elected MPs of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Kumar, who earned the nickname ‘Paltu Kumar’ for his frequent political shifts, notably rejoined the BJP in January after previously supporting the opposition INDIA bloc, which he helped form.
At the meeting, Kumar took a jab at his former allies, accusing them of not contributing to the country’s progress. He declared, “I will be with PM at all times,” addressing critics who anticipated another political flip-flop from him. His support for Modi also put to rest speculations that the INDIA bloc, which managed to secure 232 seats and significantly cut into the BJP’s lead, had approached him.
After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kumar has emerged as a crucial figure, with his Janata Dal (United) party securing 12 MPs. Alongside Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which won 16 seats, these two leaders are seen as kingmakers. Their support is vital for the BJP, which fell short of the 272 majority mark, securing only 240 seats, to form and run the government.
Discussion about this post