A sweeping reshuffle in Bihar’s police hierarchy stirs fresh speculation about the Bihar CM’s political allegiances.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ability to shift alliances with surgical precision has been a defining characteristic of his long career. The latest transfer of 62 senior police officers across the state—including three additional directors general (ADGs)—has reignited rumours about Kumar’s intentions. As political temperatures rise in Bihar, the reshuffle seems less like routine governance and more like a prelude to a strategic realignment.
The reshuffle, announced by the Home Department, affects key positions including Patna’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and the heads of multiple districts. Such sweeping changes hint at more than mere administrative adjustments.
The reshuffle coincides with Kumar’s two-day visit to Delhi, ostensibly to meet the family of the late Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The timing has raised eyebrows: the visit, coupled with the suspension of his state-wide Pragati Yatra, has triggered speculation about whether Kumar is on the brink of another political somersault.
His past is rich with such manoeuvres. Having pivoted from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan (‘Grand Alliance’), and then back to the NDA, Kumar has demonstrated a mastery of reading political winds and recalibrating his stance accordingly.
The current political atmosphere in Bihar provides fertile ground for intrigue. Kumar’s relationship with the BJP has always been edgy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent ambiguous remarks on Kumar’s position as the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate for 2025 was the most recent catalyst for the JD (U) leader’s purported disgruntlement. Shah’s reluctance to endorse Kumar unequivocally during a television interview has reportedly rankled the chief minister. While BJP leaders have since scrambled to reaffirm their commitment to Kumar’s leadership, the damage was already done.
Adding to the tension, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha’s controversial statement about the BJP’s ambitions to govern Bihar independently has fuelled speculation of a brewing power struggle. Though Sinha later backtracked, his remarks underline the fragile state of the NDA alliance in the state. Meanwhile, the RJD has been quick to exploit the cracks, with leaders like Bhai Virendra openly inviting Kumar to return to the Grand Alliance.
Kumar’s history offers a template for what might come next. In 2017, he dramatically exited the Grand Alliance over corruption allegations against RJD leaders, only to rejoin the BJP. Today, the dynamics are different but no less volatile. The BJP’s growing confidence clashes with Kumar’s political indispensability. For all its ambitions, the BJP lacks a credible local face to challenge Kumar’s stature in Bihar. This asymmetry gives Kumar leverage, which he could use to either extract concessions from the BJP or pivot back to the RJD, should the latter offer him the necessary assurances.
Kumar’s silence on these issues is as telling as it is strategic. While BJP leaders publicly praise him, Kumar has refrained from reciprocating with equal enthusiasm. His absence from key events, such as the high-profile Bihar Business Connect 2024 summit, further accentuates his disengagement. His social media team, however, has been active. Posts proclaiming “Nitish Hai Sabke Favourite” (“Nitish is everyone’s favorite”) and “Jab Baat Bihar Ki Ho, Naam Sirf Nitish Kumar Ka Ho” (“When it comes to Bihar, the only name is Nitish Kumar”) seem aimed at both reassuring his base and signalling his indispensability to potential allies.
In this regard, the timing of the IPS transfers also cannot be ignored. By placing trusted officers in key positions, Kumar appears to be bolstering his grip on the state machinery. Whether this is merely administrative housekeeping or preparation for a political pivot remains unclear as of now.
For now, all eyes are on Kumar’s next move. His visit to Delhi, his calculated silence and the reshuffling of the police apparatus suggest he is weighing his options. If history is any guide, Kumar’s decisions have always been shaped by pragmatism, not ideology.
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