Cementing JDU-BJP ties, Nitish Kumar attends Vijay Rupani's oath-taking ceremony

NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s presence at the oath-taking ceremony of Vijay Rupani-headed BJP government in Gujarat sends out a message about the stability of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Kumar left for Gandhinagar on Monday night. He is accompanied by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi of BJP, a Janata Dal (United) leader told ET from Patna.

About five months back, JDU, of which Nitish Kumar is now national president, returned to the NDA camp after leaving the grand alliance with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.


Kumar had not campaigned in the Gujarat assembly polls despite the presence of his party candidates in a few seats. However, after BJP’s victory, he lost no time in congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Kumar’s presence at Rupani’s oath-taking ceremony is also expected to improve coordination between BJP and JDU in Bihar before they start preparing for the Lok Sabha elections.

Unlike the past when JDU remained the dominant player within NDA in Bihar, BJP now has a strong presence in the state, with 21 MPs. The alliance also include parties like Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Union minister Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

JDU insiders said Nitish Kumar’s visit to Gujarat is good for BJP because the former has a good image among Patel voters across the country.

“Nitish Kumar always believes in politics with difference,” JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said in response to ET’s query. “His presence at oath-taking ceremony in Gujarat shows good coordination among NDA allies.”