Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to ditch the alliance with Rashtriya Janata Dal and join hands with BJP-led NDA and form a government in Bihar with its support in the next 20 hours.

Speculations are rife that the JD(U) chief is vexed with RJD’s behaviour, and Kumar has made up his mind to desert Grand Alliance.

Nitish Kumar had hoped to be chosen as the leader of the opposition alliance. However, the allies opted for Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the role after Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal proposed his name.

The JD(U) leader was also unhappy with the Congress for assuming a "big brother" role in the alliance and causing delays in the discussions about seat-sharing.

Kumar, who is upset with Congress's indifference towards his role in the formation of the opposition INDIA bloc, lost his cool when he was targeted by RJD on Thursday.

While addressing a party event on Wednesday to mark the birth centenary of former Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, he obliquely slammed RJD Chief Lalu Prasad for promoting his sons in politics.

Following his remarks, Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini Acharya slammed Kumar on X, where she dubbed him a leader of no principle. She also indirectly targeted Kumar’s son saying he was not suitable for a career in public life.

Perceiving the situation, the BJP sent a signal to accept him in the NDA. However, Bihar BJP leaders opposed Kumar’s entry into the NDA but changed their stand after Central leadership prevailed on them to welcome him into the NDA.

Hindustani Awami Morcha (HAM) patron Jeetan Ram Manjhi, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan, and Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RJD) leader Upendra Kushwaha were also approached by BJP to pacify them to ensure Kumar’s smooth return to NDA-fold.

BJP and HAM legislature parties convened their meetings separately and discussed how to proceed further for the formation of the NDA government headed by Nitish.

Both the parties will formally hand over support letters to Kumar after he resigns and stakes claim to form a new government on Sunday.

With 45 JD (U) MLAs, 78 MLAs of BJP and 4 MLAs of HAM, Kumar will be easily in the position to form a government, as the total figure will be sufficient to cross the magic number 122 needed to helm the state.

BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that his party would hold another meeting on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has been authorized to make decisions in the prevailing political scenario. Lalu has asked all party MLAs to remain in Patna for the next few days.

JD(U) General Secretary K C Tyagi claimed that the opposition bloc INDIA was on the verge of collapse due to Congress’s irresponsible behaviour.

He blamed Congress for creating a similar situation in West Bengal and Punjab which virtually disintegrated the INDIA bloc in both states.

BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal are getting closer in Punjab, he pointed out.

He alleged that the Congress’s demand to impose President's rule in West Bengal angered Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. As a result, she refused to permit to "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" in her state, he added.

(With UNI inputs)