NEW DELHI: A fresh storm has erupted within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar after senior BJP leader and former Union minister R.K. Singh launched a scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and other BJP ministers, demanding strict action over alleged corruption charges. His remarks have not only widened cracks inside the state unit but also put the BJP central leadership on the back foot ahead of the crucial Bihar assembly elections due in November.
Adding to the pressure, Janata Dal (United) leader and MLC Neeraj Kumar — considered a close confidant of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar — voiced deep concern over the corruption allegations. He reminded the alliance partners that Nitish Kumar’s long tenure had been defined by a clean image, contrasting it with the dark years of scams such as the infamous fodder scheme.
“The people of Bihar had chosen Nitish ji because they were tired of corruption. For the last two decades, we have delivered governance rooted in swaraj and development. Such charges against BJP leaders hurt the alliance’s credibility,” Neeraj Kumar said.
The controversy in Patna has unsettled the BJP’s top brass in Delhi, who are already grappling with discontent among cadres and allies. Party insiders admit that the infighting and corruption charges could erode the NDA’s narrative of good governance, a factor that helped it stay afloat in previous elections.
In a sign of nervousness, the BJP central leadership has reportedly asked at least five Union ministers and prominent MPs to be on standby to contest the upcoming assembly polls. Names doing the rounds include Union ministers Nityanand Rai and Giriraj Singh, as well as senior MPs like Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Satish Dubey.
However, most of these leaders have expressed reluctance to enter the state battlefield. According to sources, they fear that contesting a high-stakes assembly election could backfire. “If we lose, it is political suicide. Even if we win, our influence in Delhi will diminish. Either way, it’s the endgame for us,” said a senior BJP MP on condition of anonymity.
With Nitish Kumar insisting on clean governance and BJP’s internal rifts coming to the fore, the NDA’s electoral arithmetic in Bihar looks increasingly fragile. The central leadership faces a twin challenge — pacifying allies while also convincing its own stalwarts to take the plunge. As things stand, the NDA enters the election season with more questions than answers.
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