Sonia Gandhi and JD(U) Clash Over Nitish Kumar's Alliance Exit
Sonia Gandhi sparked a political row after dismissing Nitish Kumar's 2024 departure from the INDIA alliance as inevitable during a Congress Working Committee meeting.
A dispute erupted between the Indian National Congress and the Janata Dal (United) after Sonia Gandhi dismissed the 2024 departure of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from the INDIA alliance as inevitable. During a Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi, Gandhi clashed with member Digvijaya Singh, who argued the opposition bloc should have prevented Kumar's exit. Gandhi rejected this view, stating, "Thank God Nitish Kumar left on time. He was always meant to go there," and characterized Kumar's previous attempt to become the bloc's convenor as a "charade."
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge supported Gandhi's position, noting Kumar's desire to focus on Bihar politics. The exchange occurred as the committee discussed strategies to challenge the BJP and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding electoral roll revisions.
The Janata Dal (United) responded sharply to the remarks. Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh asserted that Kumar does not need a "certificate" from Gandhi, citing Kumar's 20 years of service in transforming Bihar. JD(U) officials further claimed that Gandhi had previously blocked a caste-based census proposal at the request of Mamata Banerjee. Nitish Kumar had previously justified his return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance by citing a lack of cooperation and personal hurt regarding the INDIA bloc's leadership structure.
