Former Union minister and senior BJP leader in Bihar, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, has publicly questioned the leadership of Bihar’s Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar. Choubey, expressing his personal opinion, has stirred some unease within the BJP by suggesting that the party should lead the NDA government in Bihar.
Choubey stated, “It’s my personal wish, and I have informed my party leadership about this. The NDA government in Bihar should be under BJP’s leadership. We should secure a full majority on our own while also collaborating with our allies.” He called on party workers to begin preparations for the next assembly elections, adding that he would work towards this goal without any personal expectations.
Despite his comments, Choubey emphasized that the BJP should continue to work with Nitish Kumar as it currently does. “The CM candidate will be decided after the elections. The party and the central leadership will make that decision,” he said.
Reacting to Choubey’s remarks, JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha insisted that there is no ambiguity regarding leadership in Bihar. “NDA in Bihar means Nitish Kumar. There is no confusion over this,” Jha told reporters in Delhi.
In addition to questioning Nitish Kumar’s leadership, Choubey also took a subtle dig at the state leadership of the BJP. He criticized the current Bihar BJP president and Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, by implying that the party leader should not be an “imported” figure. “The party president should embody Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s ideology and be a core member of the party cadre. We do not accept imported leaders,” Choubey remarked.
