Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to skip the NITI Aayog’s governing council meeting for the third consecutive year has stirred political discussions, especially as the state approaches its assembly elections. Despite being present in New Delhi during the meeting, Kumar did not attend the high-level policy gathering chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bihar government has not provided any official explanation for his absence.
In Kumar’s stead, Bihar was represented by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move has led to speculation about Kumar’s current political stance and his relationship with the central government. Opposition leaders, including Congress’s Tariq Anwar and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Jha, have interpreted Kumar’s absence as a sign of shifting priorities and potential political realignments.
Notably, other states such as Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry also did not attend the meeting. However, Kumar’s absence is particularly significant given Bihar’s political landscape and the upcoming elections. Sources within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have indicated that Kumar is expected to participate in a separate NDA chief ministers’ meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on May 25. This meeting is anticipated to address ongoing development projects in Bihar and strategize for the forthcoming elections.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary mentioned that the state’s progress on various development initiatives under Kumar’s leadership would be a focal point of discussion in the upcoming meeting. As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, Kumar’s recent actions and decisions are being closely watched for indications of his political direction and alliances.