Patna: Amidst swirling rumors of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reconsidering an alliance with the BJP, significant bureaucratic movements have occurred in Bihar, with 79 Indian Police Service (IPS) and 45 Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers being transferred within the state. This reshuffle unfolded on Friday.
As per a notification from the state government, IPS Sushil Mansingh Khopde, formerly serving as the Additional Director General (Operations) of the Special Task Force, has been reassigned as ADG (Prohibition). Meanwhile, IPS officer Amrit Raj, who held the position of ADG (Prohibition), has been appointed as the new ADG (Operations). Additionally, IPS officer Deepak Ranjan, presently the Superintendent of Police of Jehanabad, has been redirected to serve as the commandant of Bihar Special Armed Police in Bodh Gaya.
Further, Ashok Kumar Singh, currently the Superintendent of Police in Araria, has been designated as the new commandant of Bihar Special Armed Police in Sasaram, according to the government’s announcement.
Speculation is rife regarding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s potential return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), from which he departed in 2022 to collaborate with the opposition in forming the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ coalition.
Numerous NDA leaders, including former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, have hinted at a breakdown within the JD(U)-RJD alliance. Manjhi, the chief of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the ruling Mahagathbandhan government, citing Kumar’s critical statements against the RJD.
Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, hinted at the possibility of reviving ties with Nitish Kumar’s JDU, stating that no political door remains permanently closed.
Nitish Kumar’s departure from the BJP in 2022 marked his endeavor to unite opposition forces against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party in the national election. However, recent developments suggest a potential realignment, particularly following remarks made by key figures within the alliance.
The discord within the ruling alliance escalated when Rohini Acharya, daughter of former Bihar CM and RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav, criticized the JDU’s ideology, sparking internal divisions.
Should Nitish Kumar switch alliances, it would mark the fourth instance of such a move. In the Bihar Assembly, the RJD holds 79 seats, followed closely by the BJP with 78, JD(U) with 45, Congress with 19, CPI (M-L) with 12, and smaller parties and independents making up the rest.
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