Speculations Rise Over Congress MLAs Joining Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in Bihar
Rumors of Defection Among Congress Legislators
In Bihar, there are growing rumors that all six Congress legislators may join the Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This speculation intensified following the absence of legislators Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari), Surendra Prasad (Valmikinagar), Abhishek Ranjan (Chanpatia), Abidur Rahman (Araria), Mohammad Kamrul Hoda (Kishanganj), and Manoj Biswan (Farbisganj) at a 'Dahi Chura' event organized by the Congress in Patna.
Potential Impact on the Opposition Coalition
The Congress legislators are reportedly in contact with Kumar's JD(U), raising the possibility of a significant party shift. Should this occur, the Congress, a key player in the opposition alliance led by the RJD, would find itself without any representation in the assembly. Notably, neither Surendra Prasad nor Abhishek Ranjan attended a meeting called by PCC President Rajesh Ram on employment security on the 8th.
Official Responses to the Speculations
Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram dismissed these rumors, attributing them to NDA leaders spreading misinformation. However, LJP minister Sanjay Singh in the Nitish government hinted at a significant party shift post-Makar Sankranti, suggesting that all Congress legislators might join the NDA. The budget session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly is set to commence on February 2 and will continue until February 27, featuring a total of 19 meetings.
Upcoming Budget Session Details
The government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will present the annual budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 on February 3, while the third supplementary budget for 2025-26 will be introduced on February 9. A notification from the Legislative Council Secretariat revealed that the session will begin with the Governor's address and the presentation of the economic survey report on February 2. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan will address both houses jointly, providing key statistics on the state's economic status, growth rate, revenue, and expenditure.