Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a significant ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), notably skipped the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi on Saturday, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The reason for Kumar’s absence remains unclear, but the state was represented by its two deputy chief ministers, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both from the BJP.

A spokesperson for Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) indicated that the Chief Minister’s absence was not unprecedented. “The CM did not attend previous NITI Aayog meetings as well, and Bihar was represented by the then deputy CM. This time, the two deputies went to the meeting. Additionally, four members from the state, who are part of the Aayog, were present,” JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told PTI.

Significance of JD(U) and TDP in NDA Coalition

The JD(U), with its 12 seats in the Lok Sabha, is a crucial partner in the NDA coalition. The BJP, having won 240 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats in this year’s general elections, fell short of a majority by 32 seats. As a result, it requires the support of allies like JD(U) and Andhra Pradesh’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which has 16 seats, to maintain its majority.

Nitish Kumar’s political trajectory has been marked by frequent shifts in allegiance. After leaving the NDA for the Mahagathbandhan in August 2022, he rejoined the BJP-led alliance in January 2024, just before the general elections.

Congress-Led Opposition Boycott

The meeting also saw a boycott from the chief ministers of states governed by the Congress-led opposition INDIA bloc. They protested against what they perceived as the NDA government’s bias in favor of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar in the recent Union Budget presented on July 23.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the sole representative from the INDIA bloc present at the meeting, left the event in frustration. She claimed that her speaking time was unjustly limited to just five minutes, reflecting her discontent with the proceedings.

Current Political Dynamics

The absence of Nitish Kumar from the NITI Aayog meeting, coupled with the broader political discontent, underscores the complexities of coalition politics and regional representation within India’s governance framework. The dynamics within the NDA, as well as the opposition’s responses, will continue to shape the political landscape in the coming months.