Amidst uncertainties regarding the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar, the Congress party has deputed former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel to coordinate the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra is set to enter the state on January 29.
The Congress party in a release said, “Congress President has appointed Shri Bhupesh Baghel as senior observer to coordinate Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other party activities in Bihar with immediate effect.” Bhagel’s appointment to the state comes amid speculations of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar deserting Mahagathbandhan and forming a coalition with the BJP again.
Speculations are rife in Bihar that over discontentment within the INDIA alliance, Nitish Kumar is planning to ditch his current alliance with RJD and Congress and planning to join hands with the BJP again. Congress on Saturday said Kumar must break his silence and clarify his stand. "Nitish Kumar should break his silence and clear the confusion he must say something on the current political situation in the state" said senior Congress leader Prem Chandra Mishra.
Senior JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar said, “There is no confusion among the alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. When we (ministers of RJD) are sitting together in the state cabinet meeting, attending Republic Day function, then where is the confusion".
Meanwhile, the BJP is playing wait-and-watch in the state. According to reports, BJP MLAs and MPs are meeting today apparently to discuss preparations for Lok Sabha polls. Bihar Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan has called a meeting of party MLAs and former legislators in Purnea at 2pm on Saturday. Congress said the meeting has been arranged to discuss preparations for Bharat jodo nyay yatra.
Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda at Shah’s residence in Delhi.
The trouble between JD(U) and RJD was out in the open on Friday when Kumar attended the high tea ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Patna on the occasion of the Republic Day but his deputy Tejashwi Yadav skipped the function. Kumar was seen exchanging pleasantries with other guests, including BJP's Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is also the leader of Opposition in Bihar.
-with PTI inputs.
