SP Leader Says BJP May Remove Nitish Kumar “Within Days”

GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 22nd Nov: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Uttar Pradesh Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey has sparked a fresh political storm after claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may remove newly sworn-in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from power “in the coming days.” His statement has triggered speculation over the stability of the NDA government in Bihar, barely a week after the election results.

Pandey made the remarks on Friday while addressing an event commemorating the birth anniversary of SP founder and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. During the programme, he took aim at the BJP, accusing it of prioritizing a “Hindutva-driven agenda” over the core issues that directly impact citizens.

According to Pandey, the ruling party is “creating a country without equality” by focusing on religion instead of governance. He alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government has failed to address rising unemployment, poor educational conditions, and healthcare challenges, and instead continues to “mislead the public with religious slogans and rituals.”

When asked about Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary’s recent allocation of the Home Department portfolio, Pandey suggested that the move reflects a larger and calculated internal strategy. He described the allocation as “an internal compromise” and reiterated his belief that Nitish Kumar — who was sworn in last Thursday for a record tenth term — could be replaced “in a few days.”

The remark comes despite the NDA’s decisive win in Bihar, where it secured 202 seats in the 243-member Assembly and the BJP emerged as the single largest party. Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) returned to power in alliance with the BJP, once again reviving their frequently reshuffled partnership.

Pandey suggested that Nitish Kumar’s position may not be secure, despite the alliance, and hinted that the BJP could be setting the stage for a leadership shift at a time of its choosing. He further sharpened his criticism of the BJP, saying its governance model has become synonymous with religious mobilisation rather than welfare-based policymaking.

Political observers note that Pandey’s remarks may also be aimed at fuelling uncertainty within the NDA and energising the opposition narrative in both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. However, there has been no official reaction from either the BJP or the JD(U) on the SP leader’s claims.

As Bihar’s new government settles in and the BJP-JD(U) alliance recalibrates responsibilities, Pandey’s statement has added a fresh layer of political intrigue — raising questions over whether Nitish Kumar’s tenth term will reinforce his legacy or face another abrupt twist.