Nitish-Chirag-BJP... Why are NDA's trinity reassuring each other again and again?

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has continually assured the BJP that he will stick with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and fight the coming assembly elections on its symbol. This promise has come amidst rumors regarding Nitish Kumar's allegiance to the NDA, as he has a history of changing allegiances.

The BJP's confidence-boosting efforts

The BJP is, on its part, trying to give Nitish Kumar a confidence boost by saying in public that he would be the NDA face during the 2025 assembly elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also made this clear, laying to rest rumors surrounding the NDA leadership.

Chirag Paswan's change of heart

Chirag Paswan, who had protested earlier against Nitish Kumar as the leader, has now changed his mind and come out in support of Nitish Kumar being the face of the NDA in the elections. This change of heart has been seen as a realization of Nitish Kumar's position in Bihar politics and the NDA's need for his support.

The politics of alliances in Bihar

In politics in Bihar, the JD(U), BJP, and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) are mutually indispensable. The BJP realizes that it cannot gain power in the state without Nitish Kumar's support, and Nitish Kumar understands the BJP's role in ensuring the stability of his government.

The significance of Nitish Kumar to the BJP

The BJP's alignment with the RJD and Congress is unlikely, and the party's grip on power in the state hinges on Nitish Kumar's support. Nitish Kumar's withdrawal from the NDA would not only destabilize the state government but also risk destabilizing the Modi government at the national level, with the JD(U)'s 12 MPs.

Nitish Kumar's calculations

Nitish Kumar knows the significance of his tie-up with the BJP and must be weighing the advantages of staying in the NDA. With the prevailing political atmosphere, he might feel that it will give him an edge in the elections if he stays with the NDA.

The challenge ahead

In spite of the assurance and confidence-building measures, the test that lies ahead for the NDA is that it should be able to stay united and put up a united front against the Opposition. The RJD's public invitation to Nitish Kumar to join the grand alliance makes room for a more complicated situation, and one would have to wait and see how the politics of alliances in Bihar will develop in the lead-up to the 2025 assembly elections.