New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) Congress member Udit Raj on Friday delivered a strong critique of the BJP, accusing it of undermining Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his party, the Janata Dal (United). He asserted that the BJP has systematically diminished the JD(U)'s influence within the NDA coalition. This statement follows Nitish Kumar's recent nomination for the Rajya Sabha, igniting new political discussions in Bihar.

Raj pointed out that the BJP has intentionally weakened Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) over the years, relegating the party to a lesser role within the NDA framework in Bihar.

In an interview with IANS, Raj stated, “This isn't merely a numbers game. JD(U) was once the dominant partner, yet in the last elections, it found itself overshadowed by Chirag Paswan. He was allowed to contest on the same seats as JD(U), while the BJP even nominated their own candidates in those constituencies. The BJP collaborated with Nitish Kumar to support Chirag Paswan... This has effectively diminished JD(U) and left it marginalized.”

His comments were made shortly after Nitish Kumar submitted his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, a move that has raised questions regarding the future leadership dynamics in the state.

Political insiders suggest that despite the BJP's increasing power in Bihar, replacing Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister may prove challenging. Unlike states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where the BJP has successfully changed chief ministers following strong electoral victories, the party operates a coalition government in Bihar alongside JD(U), complicating potential leadership shifts.

During the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, JD(U) had to concede its “big brother” status in the NDA due to a relatively poor performance compared to the BJP. However, the party regained some ground in last year's Assembly election, securing 85 seats compared to the BJP's 89.

This narrow margin indicates that the BJP will have to carefully weigh JD(U)’s views in any significant political decisions moving forward.

Another crucial element in Bihar’s political landscape is Nitish Kumar’s strong appeal among specific voter demographics. The experienced leader enjoys substantial backing from the Most Backward Classes and female voters. His initiatives, such as the bicycle scheme for schoolgirls and the prohibition policy, have bolstered his support among women.

In this context, the conversation surrounding Nitish Kumar’s political trajectory and JD(U)’s position within the NDA is heating up, with the Opposition accusing the BJP of progressively marginalizing its long-standing ally.