Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday re-affirmed his commitment to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying emphatically that he would not re-join the 'Mahagathbandhan' in the future.
The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader said this during a high-level NDA meeting here during which the leaders of the alliance displayed a strong show of unity and declared their commitment to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.
Reflecting on his past decisions to ally with the 'Mahagathbandhan', also known as the Grand Alliance, Nitish Kumar admitted those moves were mistakes he made on the advice of senior leaders in his party (JD-U). He, however, did not name any individual.
During the meeting, NDA leaders collectively set an ambitious goal to win over 220 seats, signaling a clear intent to reinforce the alliance's strength.
Nitish Kumar also urged the NDA leaders to deepen their outreach by organising similar meetings at the Panchayat and block levels, emphasising the importance of functioning as a united front rather than individual parties.
After the meeting, Bihar unit BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said that the NDA will contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Jaiswal said that the NDA has set an ambitious goal of surpassing the number of seats won in the 2020 elections.
During the meeting, key topics discussed included addressing public discomfort with policies like liquor prohibition and the controversial smart meter installations, both of which have stirred criticism and became major points for the opposition to raise.
Nitish Kumar urged the NDA leaders to actively counter misinformation spread by the Opposition, saying the Grand Alliance had misled and cheated the people of Bihar.
To strengthen the NDA's outreach, Nitish Kumar outlined a strategy involving Assembly (segment) level conferences across the state, ensuring that future programmes are well-coordinated and shared within the alliance.
During the meeting, senior leaders from various NDA allies, including all NDA Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), among others were present.
The meeting is being seen as the NDA's first significant step towards the preparation for the 2025 Assembly elections, serving as a critical organisational push.
The upcoming by-elections in four Assembly seats in Bihar are viewed as a preliminary test, or semi-final, for the NDA's strategy and unity ahead of the main assembly elections.
Political analysts believe that in this context, the meeting has an added significance, as it marks a united front and clarifies campaign goals for the coalition in both the by-elections and the larger 2025 contest.
Civil Aviation Ministry issues strict instructions to DGCA to enforce chopper safety
In the wake of a tragic helicopter crash in the Gaurikund area of Uttarakhand, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Sunday issued strict instructions to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enforce all safety protocols related to chopper operations in hilly and sensitive areas like the Kedarnath valley.
‘Harming Indians will invite punishment’, HM Shah on Op Sindoor
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that through the anti-terror Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a strong message across the world that the bloodshed of Indians will invite punishment.
Dassault CEO trashes Pakistan's claims on downing Rafale jets
Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier has dismissed as "factually incorrect" Pakistan’s claims about having shot down three Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor.
Tripura BJP stages protest over vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in B'desh
Ruling BJP in Tripura on Saturday staged state-wide protests along the Bangladesh border, protesting the recent attack and vandalism of the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the neighbouring country.
Two new earthworm species unearthed in Tripura
In a major breakthrough for ecological science in Northeast India, two new species of earthworms—Kanchuria tripuraensis and Kanchuria priyasankari—have been formally identified in Tripura.
CM calls for mass awareness on voluntary blood donation
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today urged to create massive awareness campaigns about the benefits of voluntary blood donation to encourage more people to donate blood.
Tripura has begun experimental soilless hydroponic farming: Minister
The Tripura government has experimentally started the hydroponics method of cultivation without any soil, the state’s agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath said here on Friday.
Assam Rifles seized cannabis worth Rs 30 lakh from Tripura
In a swift and decisive operation against narcotics smuggling, Assam Rifles, in close coordination with representatives of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), successfully seized approximately 195 kg of marijuana from the general area of Taranagar, Agartala during the early hours of 12 June.