Days after Nitish Kumar’s historic ninth oath-taking ceremony as Bihar Chief Minister following his return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expressed a welcoming stance toward his former ally.

In response to the recent exchange of greetings between Nitish Kumar and himself outside the Bihar Assembly, Lalu Prasad Yadav reiterated that his doors were “always open” for the Janata Dal (United) chief. Despite Nitish Kumar’s decision to leave the Mahagathbandhan and rejoin the NDA, Lalu Prasad Yadav hinted at a possible reconciliation, stating, “Let him come back, we will see then.”

However, the JD(U) swiftly dismissed any possibility of Nitish Kumar’s return to the RJD-led alliance. Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U) chief spokesman and MLC, asserted that Nitish Kumar had firmly stated his reasons for parting ways with the RJD, citing allegations of corruption during their previous alliance. He emphasized, “There is no question of going back,” indicating the party’s stance on the matter.

Last month, Nitish Kumar’s resignation as Bihar Chief Minister marked his return to the NDA fold, dealing a significant blow to the opposition bloc. Nitish Kumar’s departure from the Mahagathbandhan, which included Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, underscored the shifting political landscape in Bihar.