After the Election Commission released the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Janata Dal United JD(U) and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar found himself at the forefront of media attention.
The National Democratic Alliance won 294 of the 543 seats, while the Opposition INDI alliance won 233 seats.
The BJP emerged victorious in 240 out of 543 seats, unable to pass the magic number of 272. The ruling party now depends on the support of key allies, including the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh and the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar.
With 12 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kumar has the power to make or break the hopes of the BJP-led NDA .
Nitish Kumar was dubbed “Sushasan Bahu” for his leadership after he was formerly seen as a promising leader for Bihar and India.
But his constant shifting of political alliances has earned him the moniker “Paltu Ram.”
Here’s a quick look at times when the Bihar CM switched sides.
Breaking ties with the RJD
Prior to January, Nitish Kumar was a member of the INDI alliance and was considered a possible opposition prime minister contender.
He did, however, sever his national ties with the RJD and the INDIA bloc at the beginning of this year and join the NDA.
Kumar said his latest switch was “in the interest of Bihar,” according to The Hindu.
The JD(U) chief gave a few explanations for breaking with his fellow lawmakers, claiming he had been “sensing an unease with the current political set-up,” as per The Indian Express.
Kumar remained the state’s chief minister, but this time with the backing of the NDA , which is led by the BJP.
According to stories published in the Indian Express at the time, the leader decided that Modi would increase his party’s prospects of winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Dissatisfaction with the BJP
Kumar did not think the same in August 2022, though.
As an NDA member, he realised that in Bihar, his party lagged behind the BJP.
His dissatisfaction with the BJP stemmed from the fact that the JD(U) lost 43 seats in the 2020 Assembly elections, while the BJP gained 74 seats, second only to the RJD’s 75.
According to a Deccan Herald report, a year into the alliance, Kumar raised objections over the BJP’s National Register for Citizens amid his displeasure over the appointment of two Deputy CMs in the state.
In the end, several differences drove Kumar to the opposing side.
When corruption charges emerged against the RJD…
For the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD and Congress extended their support to Kumar’s JD(U) and brought him back to power after forming the Mahagathbandhan, as per the Deccan Herald.
The three-party alliance secured 178 of the 243 seats in the state.
The alliance, meanwhile, was short-lived.
When allegations of corruption against then-Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav surfaced in 2017, Kumar called for the resignation of his comrade.
Yadav’s, who was also named in the CBI chargesheet, refusal to comply led the JD(U) to leave the alliance and join the NDA.
The problem with Modi’s fame
A minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ministry, Nitish Kumar joined the BJP in 1996, two years after he and George Fernandes founded the Samata Party.
Three years after Lalu Prasad Yadav created the RJD, Kumar merged the Samata Party and Janata Dal to become Janata Dal (United).
When then-Gujarat CM Modi was named the BJP’s head of poll campaign in June 2013, Kumar ended his 17-year alliance with the NDA.
This move was considered a prelude to Modi being named the party’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
In a subtle jab at L K Advani’s discrimination, the JD(U) leader alleged that the BJP was “betraying” and “cornering” its seniors.
Chances of switching sides again
Given this track record, there were rumours that Kumar might ally with the Opposition once again.
This was especially after the Bihar CM was seen flying to Delhi on Wednesday morning with Tejashwi Yadav of the Rastriya Janata Dal.
While both parties’ spokesmen insisted it was merely a “coincidence,” Yadav told the reporters shortly after arriving in Delhi, advising them to have patience.
He said, “Have some patience. Wait and watch. We greeted each other. Baaki kya hota hai, aage aage dekhte rahiye.”
However, the senior JDU leader maintained the party’s stance and affirmed that Kumar’s party will remain in NDA.
“It is our final decision. We are in the NDA and we will be in the NDA,” KC Tyagi said when asked about the speculation.
Expressing confidence in JDU’s better performance in Bihar, Tyagi said that the counting is underway and JDU is “maintaining lead in 13 of 16 seats (it contested in Bihar).”
On the overall trends, he said, “The verdict of the people is paramount. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, for the third time, the NDA government will be formed."
With inputs from agencies
 "'Mandate is decisively against Mr Modi,' says Mallikarjun Kharge, but who will heed his call to join the INDIA bloc?")
 "If only postal ballots decided Lok Sabha result 2024, it would look like this")
 "Lok Sabha Speaker post, plum portfolios: What are the likely demands of JD(U), TDP from Modi?")
 "Nitish Kumar & Chandrababu Naidu ask Modi to form NDA govt without much delay")