The controversial post declared Nitish Kumar would “remain the Chief Minister,” only for JD(U) to retract it abruptly. The reversal has triggered debates over whether the message jumped ahead of official NDA consensus or exposed underlying tensions in the power-sharing talks.
BY PC Bureau
November 14, 2025: A swiftly deleted post on X by the Janata Dal (United) proclaiming Nitish Kumar as Bihar’s next Chief Minister has unleashed a wave of political speculation, placing the spotlight firmly on the delicate leadership arithmetic within the victorious NDA alliance.
The tweet, published early Friday, made an emphatic assertion: “Unprecedented and unmatched. Nitish Kumar was, is, and will remain the Chief Minister of Bihar.” The message appeared designed to project confidence and reinforce JD(U)’s claim that Kumar was poised to begin an unprecedented 10th term. Instead, the tweet disappeared within minutes—setting off a political storm the party had not anticipated.
Its abrupt deletion has sparked heated debate in Patna’s power circles, with many interpreting it as a sign of either internal miscommunication or deeper disagreements over the NDA’s leadership formula. While the BJP repeatedly said during the campaign that the alliance was fighting “under Nitish Kumar’s leadership,” it pointedly avoided declaring him the official chief ministerial face, preserving room for negotiation after the results.
With the NDA now securing a sweeping mandate, the question of who will lead the new government—and on what terms—has become more pressing. Political analysts note that the vanishing post may reflect ongoing bargaining over key cabinet portfolios, the deputy chief ministership, and, crucially, the top post itself. Some believe the JD(U) may have attempted to set the narrative before the BJP, only to roll back when the message did not align with the alliance’s consensus.
For the JD(U), the now-deleted tweet was also a symbolic assertion of Nitish Kumar’s centrality to the NDA’s victory—especially after the party exceeded expectations in the final tally. Yet the rapid U-turn suggests a lack of internal coordination or a premature announcement that lacked approval from the highest levels.
The opposition lost no time capitalising on the confusion. The RJD termed the episode “proof of brewing discord,” while Congress leaders alleged that the BJP was “keeping its cards close,” unwilling to commit to Kumar despite public displays of unity. Social media, meanwhile, lit up with theories ranging from a clerical error to a deliberate test balloon floated by JD(U).
Within the NDA, leaders have sought to minimise the controversy, describing the deletion as a “routine social media correction.” But the political chatter shows little sign of fading. With Nitish Kumar aiming for a historic 10th term and the BJP emerging stronger in the alliance, negotiations over Bihar’s leadership appear far from settled.
Ultimately, a single deleted tweet has achieved what weeks of campaigning could not—exposing just how finely balanced, and how intensely negotiated, the next phase of Bihar’s power structure truly is.
