JDU Loud on Speaker, BJP Seeks Same ‘Leverage’ Nitish Wants to Retain

Patna, Bihar: Before the Bihar assembly elections, slogans of Nitish Kumar’s return echoed across 25–30 constituencies. Now, after the resounding NDA victory, a subtle but significant power struggle has emerged within the alliance. Observers say both JDU and BJP are seeking guarantees and leverage beyond mere trust.

Post-Election Tug of War

The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections delivered a bumper win for NDA, but the victory is accompanied by an internal tussle. The current debate is not about seniority but equality in authority—specifically, who will hold the Deputy Chief Minister posts and which party will control the Speaker’s chair. Analysts note that whether this demand is solely from JDU or includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s insistence remains unclear. Resolving this requires a three-step negotiation: BJP legislative party meeting, JDU legislative party meeting, and finally, a joint NDA legislative session.

Equality, Not Hierarchy

Unlike earlier arrangements, the contest is now about parity between JDU and BJP. Key positions under discussion include the Assembly Speaker, Legislative Council Chairman, and two Deputy Chief Ministers. BJP seeks to retain its current share of positions, mirroring the 2020 setup, aiming for the Speaker, Council Chairman, and both Deputy CM posts. JDU strategists argue that in 2020, the distribution was based on 43 JDU and 74 BJP MLAs, whereas the current “double-engine” government comprises 84 JDU and 89 BJP MLAs, justifying a more balanced arrangement.

JDU’s Strategic Aim

JDU is fully aware of the political landscape and knows it poses no threat to the Union government. The party aims to retain the Speaker’s chair, citing historical precedent: when Uday Narayan Chaudhary was Speaker, a faction of MLAs led by Samrat Chaudhary supported Nitish Kumar during the Jitan Ram Manjhi episode. Though they lacked a two-thirds majority, the Speaker preserved their membership as a separate group. With a significant number of BJP MLAs now in the assembly, JDU seeks to safeguard its legislative authority by securing the Speaker’s post.

The Deputy Chief Minister Puzzle

The demand for the Deputy Chief Minister position reflects JDU’s enhanced strength with 84 MLAs. Their main objective is to ensure a trustworthy ally alongside the Deputy CM, with Vijay Chaudhary’s name circulating in political corridors. This move also aims to energize party workers and free JDU from the perception of being the “junior partner” in the NDA.

All these key decisions are expected to be finalized in today’s party and alliance meetings, shaping Bihar’s NDA power-sharing dynamics for the new term.