Patna

As Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister and pulled his party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) out of the ruling alliance of Bihar, speculations are rife that Nitish would rejoin the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), bringing an end to the 'Mahagathbandhan' rule in the state.

In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD and BJP have almost same number of seats: the former has 79 MLAs; followed by 78 of the BJP

The Mahagathbandhan alliance compreised, Congress (19 MLAs), CPI-ML (12), CPI-M and CPI (2 each), the Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (4), AIMIM (2) and one Independent.

Amid the ongoing political drama in Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party legislative party meeting is underway at the party's office in Patna.

Union Minister and BJP MP Nityanand Rai has arrived at the state party office in Patna for the meeting.

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad have also reached the meeting venue.

The BJP has the largest number of 17 MPs in Bihar, where the total number of Lok Sabha members is 40. The JD(U), headed by Kumar, has 16 while another NDA ally LJP, now split up between the uncle-nephew duo of Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan, has six.

In his first reaction to the political turmoil after handing over his resignation letter to the Governor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the state of affairs in the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) formed one and a half years ago was 'not good.”

"The alliance, which was formed one and a half years ago, was sailing through choppy waters. Though we came together on the basis of a common minimum programme and promises to the people, we failed to live up to expectations and discharge our salient duties. Eventually, we fell out and even stopped being on speaking terms. I was left with no option but to sever all ties with the alliance," the JD(U) supremo said, targeting RJD.

The official handle of Raj Bhavan of Bihar on X posted that the Governor asked Nitish to discharge his administrative duties as the acting chief minister till a new government takes shape.

Responding to the political quake in the state, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted from his official X handle, "Nitish Kumar is giving a tough competition to chameleons when it comes to changing his political stripes and partners. The people will not forgive this betrayal and those who took them for a ride. It's quite evident that the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the BJP are scared of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and this political drama was enacted to shift public attention away from it."

Amid this drama, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok on Sunday said his party was on 'alert' and closely tracking the events in the state.

Alok said if CM Nitish was to pull the plug on the Mahagathbandhan or the ruling grand alliance as is being speculated, and, if the government were to fall, it should happen at the earliest.

"We are the biggest party in Bihar. We are alert and are tracking the developments closely. We are seized of the shifting political sands in Bihar. We will not take a step back when it comes to discharging our responsibilities. We cannot leave Bihar in the hands of 'Jungle Raj'. If this government is to fall, I pray to the Almighty that it happens today," the BJP national spokesperson said.

The unravelling power play in the state was triggered after CM and RJD president Lalu Yadav's daughter, Rohini Acharya took a swipe at JD(U) on X, posting that while the 'socialist party' (JDU) styles itself as progressive, its ideology shifts with the changing wind patterns, a statement which triggered cracks within the grand alliance.

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If Nitish crosses over, this would mark the fourth time that he would be switching sides.