As Nitish Kumar lands in Delhi ahead of result day, JD(U) demands early state polls

A day ahead of the Lok Sabha polls results on Monday, the NDA’s Bihar ally, JD(U), demanded early Assembly polls in the state in consonance with the Centre’s “one nation, one election” pitch.

The JD(U), however, delinked this with Bihar CM and party supremo Nitish Kumar’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. The party’s national spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha MP, K C Tyagi, told The Indian Express: “Let us make it clear that CM Nitish Kumar meeting with PM was just a courtesy call. The CM had come to Delhi for his routine eye check-up and had sought time from PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”

However, sources in the CM house and the party said the demand was made in a bid to increase Nitish’s political stock in the state. “We could become an important player in national politics if we win a good number of Lok Sabha seats. Currently, we have 45 MLAs in the Assembly. If fresh polls are held, this number would go up substantially,” a JD(U) leader said and added that the party had been looking “for an alliance of equals with the NDA, if not being the senior partner”.

Tyagi said the JD(U) had always been in favour of simultaneous polls. “As the NDA looks set to return to power, we demand early elections in Bihar. Nitish has always supported the idea as it would save a lot of money,” he said.

The JD(U) leader also dismissed the timing of the party’s demand. “It has nothing to do with timing. We had even told the panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind (on One Nation, One Election) that we were in favour of the idea. It is on record,” he said.

The JD(U) spokesperson said the Opposition was opposing the “one nation, one election” idea as they feel the ruling coalition at the Centre would play