Lalu Yadav Convinced 10 JDU MLAs To Skip Floor Test, Offered CM Post To Manjhi: Sources

bihar crisis lalu yadav convinced jdu mlas to skip floor test offered cm post to manjhi

Patna: Bihar is yet again engulfed by a political upheaval with Nitish Kumar’s likely exit from the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) giving JD(U) the worst nightmare it could imagine just before the upcoming general elections. Sourced told Times Now that in a desperate attempt to maintain hold on power in the state, Lalu Yadav got in touch with 10 JD(U) MLAs and convinced them to be Absent on the day of the floor test.

Jitan Ram Manjhi has been offered the post of Chief Minister but all the important ministries will be with Tejashwi Yadav, sources told Times Now.

Earlier reports had said that Lalu Yadav made several calls to Nitish Kumar as rumours of his possible return to NDA are rife in the political circuits. The call, however, went unanswered much like the calls of Sonia Gandhi, who had also dialled Nitish Kumar to invite him to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Sources told Times Now that Sonia Gandhi tried to speak to Nitish Kumar regarding the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, as the Congress party had extended an invite to JDU and RJD for an event taking place in Purnia, Bihar on January 30. However, Kumar chose to ignore the calls.

Earlier, sources had said that Nitish Kumar has decided not to participate in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay when the marching group enters Bihar on January 30. Kumar’s decision to not walk with Gandhi has given a subtle message that all is not well within the INDIA bloc.

Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar for a seventh time tomorrow with support from the BJP, his on-again-off-again ally, sources told Times Now.

Earlier sources had indicated to Times Now that the state may witness “some big changes” in the next 2-3 days in Bihar. “It is clear that CM Nitish is uneasy in the India Alliance and bargaining is going on between BJP and Nitish Kumar on different levels and issues. The Bihar scenario will get clear within the next 3 days,” sources close to the JD(U) leader said.

If Nitish crosses over, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides. Over the past two decades, Nitish Kumar has frequently switched alliances between the BJP and the RJD-Congress-Left coalition while retaining his position in office. Kumar had last jumped the ship in 2022 when he left NDA to join hands with the Opposition and form ‘Mahagathbandhan’.