The BJP’s state unit chief, Sanjay Jaiswal, told BJP workers across Bihar on Sunday that there was no question of realignment with “unpopular” Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
He made the remark following the conclusion of the party’s two-day state executive meeting in the Darbhanga district of North Bihar.
“We have worked hard to dispel rumours about such a realignment among our party’s cadre. Of course, the CM has a penchant for oscillating like a pendulum. But we will not be duped by him again “, said the BJP leader, whose party lost power in Bihar after Kumar and the JD(U) left an alliance with the saffron party to form a new one with the RJD and Congress.
“Nitish Kumar’s popularity has plummeted. It was his unpopularity that caused his JD(U) to perform poorly in the 2020 assembly elections, when we performed much better “Mr. Jaiswal stated.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated magnanimity (udaarta) by sticking to the promise made before the elections, and Kumar ended up serving another term in office. But, as is his wont, Kumar betrayed the trust that PM had placed in him “, according to the Bihar BJP chief.
Mr. Kumar had rejected the BJP, accusing it of attempting to divide the JD(U) with the assistance of his former close aide RCP Singh.
The party has also accused the BJP of attempting sabotage in the assembly elections, when Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party fielded many saffron party rebels against JD(U) candidates.
Mr. Jaiswal reiterated that the BJP was now aiming at forming its own government in Bihar after winning the next assembly polls and claimed that the tone will be set in the Lok Sabha elections next year in which “we have set for ourselves a target of more than 35 out 40 seats in the state”.
Mr. Jaiswal also said, jokingly, “Today marks the birthday of George Fernandes, a mentor to Nitish. Nitish can dump anyone else because he did not hesitate to betray him “.
