Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha found himself in hot water following a fiery speech paying tribute to the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sparking tensions between the BJP and its ally, the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United). The controversy led Sinha to issue a clarification, seemingly under party pressure.
Speaking at a BJP event commemorating the former Prime Minister, Sinha remarked that the BJP’s mission in Bihar remains unfinished. “The true homage to Atal ji would be establishing a BJP-led government in Bihar. Only then will our hearts find peace,” he declared.
Taking aim at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the main opposition party, Sinha accused them of disrupting communal harmony and linked them to the era of “jungle raj.” Highlighting Bihar’s historical significance, he added, “It is time to reignite that spirit. Every Bihari should feel proud. A BJP-led government in Bihar will be the real tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee and a moment of pride for every BJP worker.”
The remarks, made in the context of Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections, fueled speculation about cracks in the BJP-JDU alliance. Despite being numerically stronger in the NDA, the BJP had allowed Nitish Kumar to remain Chief Minister after he rejoined the alliance last year. Nitish Kumar reciprocated by extending vital support to the BJP at the Centre when it fell short of a majority in the general elections.
Sinha’s comments, however, raised questions about whether the BJP might seek to replace Nitish Kumar if it secures enough seats in the upcoming elections. Acknowledging the backlash, Sinha quickly released a clarification video, emphasizing Nitish Kumar’s importance.
In the video, Sinha referred to Nitish Kumar as “Atal ji’s favorite” and credited him with ending Bihar’s jungle raj from 2005 to 2010, bringing an era of governance free from kidnappings, murders, loot, and rapes. He further underscored, “The NDA government under Nitish Kumar’s leadership will continue in the future,” with a portrait of Nitish Kumar prominently displayed in the background.
The Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks and subsequent clarification also lent weight to the RJD’s recurring claim that the BJP is micromanaging Bihar’s government from Delhi, leaving Nitish Kumar with limited control over the state’s administration.
