New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar’s visit to Delhi a day before the Lok Sabha results announcement sparked speculation about its timing and purpose. While both the JD(U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a courtesy call, political circles buzzed with rumors that Kumar’s visit might have significant implications for the state’s politics.

Fueling speculation that Kumar might be aiming for a role outside the state and that new leadership would take over for the 2025 elections was the JD(U)’s push for early polls.

“There is no truth to these conjectures about the CM’s visit…he has met the PM and is likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. There may have been alliance-related issues discussed, but there is no question of changing the state’s leadership,” said a JD(U) functionary aware of the details.

The leader explained that the CM was in the Capital for a routine medical checkup and is expected back in the state soon.

Despite this explanation, speculation persists that the BJP may occupy the CM’s seat if the election results favor the party. “There is buzz in the state that if the BJP wins all 17 seats it is contesting, and the JD(U) does poorly, a leadership change may be imminent,” said a BJP leader in Bihar. However, he clarified that this was merely “speculation” and had not been “discussed formally or informally within the party unit.”

Additionally, there is talk that the BJP might appoint an Other Backward Class (OBC) face as CM and allow the JD(U) to pick an upper-caste deputy CM to strengthen their position among the OBCs, Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and upper castes ahead of the assembly polls.