Nitish Kumar's CM exit was voluntary decision, says BJP ally Samrat

A top BJP functionary on Tuesday asserted that former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an autonomous decision to relinquish his post, dismissing claims of external pressure from the ruling alliance. Samrat, a prominent BJP figure, stated that the JD(U) leader's exit from the Chief Minister's office was entirely his personal choice and not prompted by any directive from the BJP. The clarification comes amid ongoing political discussions about Kumar's recent political realignments in the state. Kumar had previously held the Chief Minister's position through multiple tenures and had been leading a coalition government with BJP support. Political analysts have been scrutinizing the circumstances surrounding his departure from the top administrative post. Samrat's statement seeks to establish that Kumar's decision reflected his own political calculations rather than any imposed settlement between the alliance partners. The development marks another significant turn in Bihar's volatile political landscape, where leadership transitions have frequently triggered speculation about inter-party dynamics and power-sharing arrangements.