With growing tension between JD(U) and BJP, Lalu Prasad-led RJD, the single largest party in the 243-member assembly with 79 seats, dissolved its media panel and advised all senior functionaries to refrain from making any public statement as it tries to take advantage of the evolving scenario. Should it come to that, combination of the 45-strong JD(U) and RJD alone would give them a majority of 124 seats in the House with a strength of 243.
Amid reports of fissures between the two allies, the Bihar opposition — Congress, RJD and Left — have declared open support to Nitish and JD(U).
The RJD, which was in an alliance with JD(U) earlier, said that it was ready to embrace Nitish Kumar and his party if he snapped ties with the BJP. Nitish had in 2017 pulled out of an alliance with RJD over corruption charges levelled against then deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav.
The Left also announced support to JD(U) and Nitish if he broke ranks with the BJP, while the Congress said it would extend unconditional support to the Bihar CM if he walks out of the alliance.
The BJP, meanwhile, has adopted a wait-and-watch strategy and remained tight-lipped on the rift buzz. Though BJP leaders met at Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad and assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha’s residences late in the evening, there was no word on what was discussed.