Speculation Mounts Over Bihar Congress MLAs Joining JDU; NDA Faces Internal Tensions

Patna: Political rumblings are intensifying in Bihar as speculation grows that all six Congress MLAs in the state might switch allegiance to the Janata Dal (United). If this occurs, Congress could lose its entire representation in the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly.

The six MLAs—Manohar Prasad Singh (Manhari), Surendra Prasad (Valmiki Nagar), Abhishek Ranjan (Chanpatia), Abidur Rehman (Araria), Mohammad Kamrul Hoda (Kishanganj), and Manoj Biswan (Forbesganj)—reportedly have been in touch with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JDU. A senior JDU leader claimed that dissatisfaction over Congress’s functioning has reached its peak among these legislators, suggesting that their defection could happen in the coming days.

“Should these MLAs join JDU, it would make the party numerically stronger than the BJP within the NDA,” the JDU source added.

Two Congress MLAs had recently skipped a party meeting organized under the “Save MGNREGA” campaign, raising further speculation. While some party leaders acknowledged that a few MLAs might be in contact with NDA leaders, senior figures, including former Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan and AICC secretary Shahnawaz Alam, dismissed these claims as politically motivated rumors.

NDA Allies Also Witnessing Strains

Tensions are not limited to Congress. Within the NDA, sources indicate that three of Upendra Kushwaha’s RLMP (Rashtriya Lok Manch) MLAs—Rameshwar Mahto, Madhav Anand, and Alok Kumar Singh—have been in touch with BJP leaders. Dissatisfaction within RLMP stems from Kushwaha’s decision to nominate his son Deepak to Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, despite not being a member of the state legislature.

Although speculations about RLMP breaking apart have surfaced, the party’s MLAs insist on maintaining unity. Madhubani MLA Madhav Anand said, “Yes, there is some dissatisfaction over leadership decisions, but it does not mean the party will split. We are discussing these matters internally.”

Former Union Minister RCP Singh’s potential return to JDU has also sparked discussions. Once close to Nitish Kumar, Singh was expelled from JDU in 2022 over alleged efforts to align with BJP and disrupt the party. However, his recent participation in a Kurmi community event alongside the Chief Minister has fueled speculation about his political comeback.

Political Uncertainty Ahead

These developments highlight that despite NDA’s decisive mandate in the November 2025 Bihar elections—where it won 202 of 243 seats, with BJP securing 89 and JDU 85—the state’s political landscape remains fluid. Analysts suggest that Bihar may soon witness new political equations, further reshaping power dynamics in the state.