Giriraj Singh demanded the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna for Nitish Kumar ahead on 2025 assembly poll.
Patna December 25, 2024: Union Minister Giriraj Singh demanded Bharat Ratna for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday.
It has ignited discussions about political dynamics within the BJP-JDU alliance in Bihar.
Giriraj Singh lauded Nitish Kumar’s long tenure and contributions to Bihar’s development, contrasting it with the “jungle raj” era under Lalu Prasad Yadav, and highlighted Naveen Patnaik’s transformative work in Odisha.
Giriraj Singh made a unique demand:
This is the first time a BJP Union Minister has openly advocated such a high honour for Nitish Kumar. This move is being interpreted as a gesture aimed at placating the Bihar Chief Minister amidst speculation of tension between him and the BJP.
The timing of the demand has raised questions about whether the BJP is actively trying to assuage Nitish Kumar’s perceived grievances and ensure unity within the NDA in Bihar.
The political background of Giriraj Singh’s statement:
Recent events have fuelled speculation about Nitish Kumar’s dissatisfaction with the BJP. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments during a TV debate about leadership in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections sparked controversy, leading to rumours of discord.
Additionally, Nitish Kumar’s illness and reduced public appearances gave rise to conjecture about his mood toward the alliance. Despite this, both BJP and JDU later affirmed that Nitish Kumar would remain the NDA’s leader in Bihar for the 2025 elections.
BJP’s Calibrated Approach:
Giriraj Singh’s call for the Bharat Ratna aligns with other conciliatory measures by the BJP. For instance, the central government recently approved Rs.100 crore for Patna University’s development, a long-standing demand of Nitish Kumar to declare this as a central university Though, centre has not granted it Central University status. These gestures appear to be efforts by the BJP to reinforce the alliance and address Nitish Kumar’s concerns.
The BJP’s actions suggest a strategic approach to maintaining the alliance with the JDU, a crucial partner for the upcoming elections. Nitish Kumar’s leadership remains integral to the NDA’s plans in Bihar, and the BJP seems intent on dispelling any doubts about their support for him.
At the same time, the situation underscores the delicate balance within the alliance and highlights the importance of addressing partner concerns to maintain political stability.
The demand for Bharat Ratna and the financial allocation for Patna University symbolizes the BJP’s backfoot approach to ensure Nitish Kumar’s alignment with the NDA.
Whether these moves will fully quell speculation about tensions in the alliance remains to be seen as the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections draw closer.
Also Read: Dilip Jaiswal said Nitish Kumar will be the NDA’s CM candidate for the 2025 Bihar Assembly poll.
EOM.