How big is the jolt for Nitish as JD(U)’s 5 out of 6 MLAs switch to BJP in Manipur

New Delhi: In a major setback to Nitish Kumar-led Janta Dal (United), five MLAs of JD(U) left Manipur on September 2. The latest development came just a day before five MLAs — K Joykisan Singh, Ngursangular Sanate, Achab Uddin, Thangjam Arunkumar and L M Khaute — were scheduled to attend the party’s important meeting in Patna on Saturday. Now, JD(U) is left with one MLA in the state Muhammad Abdul Nasir from Lilong’s seat.

The setback in Manipur also raised a question about the leadership role of Nitish Kumar JD(U) in Manipur as within the six months after the Assembly election, five leaders quit the party to join the ruling BJP. In the assembly, N. Biren Singh-led BJP now has 37 MLAs out of the total 60 MLAs.

Below here, we are going to discuss how the loss in Manipur will affect Nitish Kumar in his future ambition:

Damage to Nitish Kumar’s ambition for PM’s Post

The questions from the BJP over the leadership quality were very much expected. BJP’s National Information and Technology in-charge, Amit Malviya said that Nitish Kumar is ”seeing his party’s footprint shirk not just in Bihar…but also outside”.

Despite this fact, he has a dream to become the Prime Minister of India, added Malviay on Twitter in Hindi.

Mamata Banerjee’s attempts to gain acceptability beyond West Bengal, backfired miserably. Nitish Kumar, a lame duck Chief Minister, is seeing his party’s footprint shrink, not just in Bihar, where it is the third largest, but also outside.

पर ख़्वाब प्रधानमंत्री बनने के हैं… https://t.co/Phxr8yJIpK

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2022

Since Nitish Kumar broke alliance with the NDA in Bihar, several BJP leaders mocked Kumar’s personal ambition to become the PM. However, the numbers in election results do not project him to be the face of PM on its own.

In Lok Sabha, JD(U) has only 16 seats out of the total 543 while it has only 5 MPs in 245-member Rajya Sabha. JD(U) is in power only in Bihar among the 31 states and union territories. In the state, Kumar formed the government with the help of Lalu Yadav’s party RJD. Notably, RJD has 79 MLAs while JD(U) has only 45 legislatures.

The numbers seem to be unfavourable in Parliament and Bihar Assembly for Nitish Kumar’s ambition.

Tejashwi becomes the top choice for CM post in Bihar

Despite having fewer seats in Bihar Assembly than RJD, Nitish Kumar managed to become the CM in Bihar. Notably, Tejashwi Yadav was projected to be the top choice for becoming the new CM of Bihar after he joins hands with Kumar.

In the survey, conducted by India Today in association with C-Voter in Bihar, Tejashwi bagged 43% votes against 24% for Nitish Kumar.