"Nitish Kumar was not respected, but abused in grand alliance": JDU MLA Gopal Mandal amid political uncertainty in Bihar

Patna (Bihar) [India], January 26 (ANI): Amid talk of a deepening rift between the RJD and JD(U), MLA Gopal Mandal of the leading party JD(U) in the grand alliance on Friday alleged that Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of the state was not being 'respected' in the 'mahagathbandhan'.
Speaking to the reporters here, Mandal also said that Nitish Kumar is planning to 'switch the alliance to save his existence'.
"Wherever our national president (Nitish Kumar) goes, we will follow him. People can do anything to save their existence. His existence was at the stake. He was not respected; he was being abused," Mandal said.
The JDU MLA also refuted the claim of RJD breaking his party's MLAs.
"JDU MLAs are strong, so it is not possible to break them," he said.
The unity of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) appeared in jeopardy amid growing speculation that Nitish Kumar, a key figure in the bloc may exit the 28-party Opposition bloc, formed to take on the BJP-led Central government.
Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of coralling all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.
He hosted the first meeting of opposition parties in Patna, and it was widely believed that he would eventually be the coalition's Convenor.
However, it all started when Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD President Lalu's daughter Rohini Acharya took a swipe at RJD's ruling ally, JDU, on X posting that while the 'socialist party' (JDU) styles itself as progressive, its ideology shifts with the changing wind patterns, a statement which triggered cracks within the ruling alliance.
If Nitish crosses over, this would be the fourth time he would be switching sides.
In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator. (ANI)