Giriraj Singh backs Nitish Kumar, says he 'never betrayed anyone' as Sonia Gandhi row erupts
Synopsis
A reported CWC clash between Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh over Nitish Kumar's 2024 INDIA Bloc exit has spilled into open political warfare, with BJP's Giriraj Singh dismissing Gandhi's 'Thank God' remark as lacking moral standing. The episode lays bare both the Congress's unresolved alliance regrets and the BJP-NDA's eagerness to protect its most indispensable coalition partner.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Giriraj Singh publicly defended Nitish Kumar on 30 September 2026 , rejecting Sonia Gandhi's reported description of him as a political opportunist.
Sonia Gandhi reportedly said at the CWC meeting : 'Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time.
He was always meant to go there.' Digvijaya Singh differed with Gandhi, reportedly arguing the INDIA Bloc should have done more to retain Kumar.
Nitish Kumar formally quit the INDIA Bloc and rejoined the NDA on 28 January 2024 .
Singh questioned Gandhi's 'moral standing' to criticise Kumar, saying he 'never betrayed anyone in his life.' The CWC meeting was also discussing Congress's campaign against the ECI over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, publicly defended Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar and took sharp aim at senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, rejecting her reported characterisation of the Bihar leader as a political opportunist. Singh's remarks came after reports emerged of a heated internal exchange at Monday's Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in which Gandhi and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh clashed over Kumar's departure from the INDIA Bloc in early 2024.
What Triggered the Controversy
According to Congress sources cited in reports, the CWC meeting on Monday saw an unusual public disagreement between Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh over Nitish Kumar's decision to quit the Opposition alliance on 28 January 2024. Digvijaya Singh reportedly argued that the INDIA Bloc should have made greater efforts to retain Kumar, suggesting the political calculus could have been different had he stayed. Sonia Gandhi, however, maintained that Kumar had always intended to leave, saying: 'Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time. He was always meant to go there.' The exchange unfolded as the CWC was also deliberating on the Congress party's campaign against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Giriraj Singh's Counterattack
Responding through a video message, Singh mounted a vigorous defence of Kumar, framing the Bihar Chief Minister as a leader of unimpeachable integrity. 'Nitish Kumar has never in his life patronised corrupt individuals, nor has he patronised anti-national elements. He remained committed to the nation and worked in national interest, whether as a Chief Minister or as a Central Cabinet Minister,' Singh said. He went on to question Sonia Gandhi's standing to pass judgment, asking: 'On what basis does she have the right to lecture others?' Singh added: 'He has never betrayed anyone in his life.'
Nitish Kumar's Political Journey
Nitish Kumar formally exited the INDIA Bloc on 28 January 2024, resigning as Chief Minister of the Mahagathbandhan government and rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). It was not the first time Kumar had switched alliances — his political career has been marked by multiple realignments between the NDA and Opposition formations, making him one of India's most pivotal swing actors in coalition politics. Critics argue each move was driven by electoral arithmetic; supporters counter that Kumar has consistently prioritised governance commitments over ideological loyalty.
Why the CWC Row Matters
The internal Congress disagreement surfaces at a sensitive moment. The party is simultaneously fighting a legal and political battle against the ECI over the SIR process, which it alleges is being used to manipulate electoral rolls ahead of upcoming state polls. A visible crack between Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh — two of the party's most senior voices — over past alliance management could complicate internal cohesion. The BJP has been quick to exploit the optics, using Singh's broadside to reinforce its narrative that the INDIA Bloc was always a fragile, internally divided arrangement.
What Comes Next
The Congress has not issued an official response to Giriraj Singh's remarks. Nitish Kumar's JD(U), now a key NDA ally and a critical pillar of the coalition's majority in the Lok Sabha, is unlikely to dignify the reported CWC remarks with a formal reply. With Bihar assembly politics perpetually in the background and the NDA's arithmetic dependent on JD(U) support, the episode underscores how sensitive the question of Kumar's loyalty remains for all sides.
Point of View
And any narrative questioning Kumar's reliability must be neutralised fast. What is more revealing, however, is the Congress's own internal fracture: a disagreement between Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh at a CWC meeting over a two-year-old alliance decision suggests the party has not finished processing the political cost of Kumar's exit. The 'Thank God' framing from Gandhi may play well internally, but it also signals that Congress is reconciling itself to a permanent loss rather than plotting a re-engagement — a posture that cedes Bihar's coalition space entirely to the NDA.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sonia Gandhi reportedly say about Nitish Kumar at the CWC meeting?
Sonia Gandhi reportedly told the Congress Working Committee meeting that Nitish Kumar had always intended to leave the INDIA Bloc, saying: 'Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time. He was always meant to go there.' The remark came during an exchange with Digvijaya Singh, who argued the alliance should have tried harder to retain Kumar.
Why did Giriraj Singh criticise Sonia Gandhi?
Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Sonia Gandhi lacked the 'moral standing' to call Nitish Kumar a traitor, arguing that Kumar had never patronised corruption or anti-national elements throughout his political career. Singh questioned what basis she had to lecture others on loyalty.
When did Nitish Kumar leave the INDIA Bloc?
Nitish Kumar officially quit the INDIA Bloc on 28 January 2024, resigning as Chief Minister of the Mahagathbandhan government and returning to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. It was the latest in a series of political realignments across his career.
What was the Congress Working Committee meeting about?
The CWC meeting on Monday was primarily focused on the Congress party's political strategy and its campaign against the Election Commission of India over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The exchange between Sonia Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh over Nitish Kumar emerged as a notable sub-discussion.
What is the significance of the Digvijaya Singh–Sonia Gandhi disagreement?
The reported disagreement between two of Congress's most senior leaders over a two-year-old alliance decision signals unresolved internal debate about the party's coalition strategy. It also hands the BJP an opportunity to reinforce its narrative that the INDIA Bloc was always an unstable formation.
