According to the news report, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met with his political rival and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in his hometown of Patna after a gap of seven months. Nitish Kumar had been staying in Delhi for the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other engagements.
The meeting between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav, who are often at odds with each other, is being seen as a significant development in the state’s political landscape. The two leaders reportedly discussed various issues, including the COVID-19 situation in Bihar and the upcoming state assembly elections.
This meeting comes at a time when the Bihar government is facing criticism from various quarters over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state has been witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths, and there have been reports of shortage of medical oxygen, hospital beds, and other essential supplies.
The meeting between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav has also fuelled speculations about a possible political realignment in Bihar ahead of the state assembly elections, which are due to be held later this year. It remains to be seen whether the two leaders can put their differences aside and form an alliance for the upcoming polls.
Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav have a long history of political rivalry in Bihar. The two leaders were allies in the past, but their relationship soured after Nitish Kumar broke away from the RJD-led alliance in 2017 and formed a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Since then, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav have been bitter rivals, with each accusing the other of betraying the mandate of the people. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the two parties contested separately and were able to win only one seat each out of the 40 parliamentary seats in Bihar.
However, the recent meeting between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav has sparked speculations of a possible reconciliation between the two leaders. Some political analysts believe that the two leaders may join hands again to take on the BJP, which is currently in power in Bihar.
The upcoming state assembly elections in Bihar are expected to be closely contested, with several political parties vying for power. The BJP-JD(U) alliance is currently in power in the state, but the RJD-led alliance, which includes the Congress and other regional parties, is expected to give them a tough fight. It remains to be seen how the political scenario in Bihar will evolve in the coming months.
