A Firm Message from the Home Minister

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has categorically stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) never announced any alternative chief ministerial candidate for Bihar, reaffirming that Nitish Kumar will continue as Chief Minister under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In an interview with Aaj Tak, Shah said, “Our government has been clear from day one — Nitish Kumar will remain the Chief Minister. There has never been any other name discussed or declared.”

Dismisses Opposition Speculation

Amit Shah’s remarks come amid intense speculation and political whisper campaigns by the Mahagathbandhan, which has claimed that the BJP would “dump” Nitish Kumar after securing power in Bihar. The Home Minister brushed aside such rumours, saying, “The posts of Chief Minister and Prime Minister are not available for purchase. These are not things to be auctioned or negotiated.”

By reasserting his alliance’s commitment to Nitish Kumar, Shah sought to silence internal murmurs and opposition taunts that the BJP might spring a surprise post-election.

Confident of a Landslide Victory

During the interview, Shah exuded confidence about NDA’s prospects, claiming the alliance would secure over 160 seats in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

He dismissed demands for a “formal declaration” of the chief ministerial candidate, saying the alliance’s position was already evident. “We have said it time and again — Nitish Kumar is our leader in Bihar. That should end all confusion,” Shah added.

Taking a Jibe at Nitish Kumar’s Critics

The Home Minister also took the opportunity to hit back at critics within and outside the alliance. Referring to JD(U)’s critics and opposition leaders, BJP spokesperson Pankaj Singh quipped, “What Nitish Kumar does in Bihar is the reverse of what Narendra Modi does in Delhi.”

At a recent rally, Shah took aim at both the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, saying, “Lalu-Rabri want their son as CM, and Sonia ji wants her son to be PM. Neither will happen. Modi ji is in Delhi, Nitish ji is in Patna — both will continue to serve the people.”

Opposition’s Counterattack

The Mahagathbandhan has made the BJP-JD(U) relationship its primary attack line. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while campaigning in Bihar, alleged that the BJP had made Nitish Kumar “a captive chief minister.”

“He is like a remote-controlled machine. The buttons are in the hands of Modi and Shah,” Rahul said, suggesting that Nitish had surrendered his independence to the BJP leadership.

Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, projected as the Mahagathbandhan’s CM face, accused the NDA of deceiving voters through “a facade of unity.”

Closing the Ranks Before Polling

As the campaign heads into its final stretch, Shah’s statements are seen as a strategic attempt to reunify the NDA base and quell any doubts about leadership clarity.

The BJP’s strong endorsement of Nitish Kumar also comes amid reports of internal dissatisfaction within sections of the JD(U), where some leaders privately felt overshadowed by the saffron party’s dominance.

By publicly reaffirming Kumar’s leadership, Amit Shah appears to be consolidating the alliance’s position against the RJD-Congress narrative of discord.

The Road Ahead

With the NDA projecting stability and the opposition pushing a “remote-control” charge, Bihar’s political battleground is heating up rapidly. As Amit Shah tries to tighten the alliance’s unity, the upcoming election is shaping into a contest between leadership clarity and opposition cynicism — with Nitish Kumar once again at the centre of Bihar’s political storm.

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