Outreach? Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reveals Amit Shah call to discuss new governor

PATNA: CM Nitish Kumar Tuesday let slip that Union home minister Amit Shah had telephoned him the previous night to convey the appointment of a new governor, sparking speculation about whether that translated into BJP reaching out to its one-time ally after a bitter parting six months ago.
JD(U) spokesperson Ranbir Nandan was at pains to scotch comparisons with the duo's last phone conversation, a famous one dating back to August 2022, just before Nitish ditched BJP to re-engineer an alliance with RJD and Congress. On that occasion, the CM reportedly assured Shah that there was "nothing to worry about", only to exit NDA the very next day.

Nitish mentioned Shah's latest call while speaking to the media during the course of his state-wide Samadhan Yatra. He left it to JD(U) colleagues to clarify later that "nothing should be read into this".
"It was a mere courtesy call...Nitish has always followed the coalition dharma. Jiske saath rahe, puri imandari ke saath rahe hain (irrespective of whoever he has been in an alliance with, it's been with full sincerity)," Nandan said. "If BJP feels insecure today, then it has itself to blame for it."

RJD claimed that CM Nitish was committed to the seven-party Grand Alliance and the goal of "BJP-mukt Bharat".
"The bond of Mahagathbandhan is very strong and none can break it. The Mahagathbadhan has been formed with a maha uddeshya (bigger objective)," state RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said. "Nitish Kumarji has already said he would prefer to die than join hands with BJP again."
New governor Rajendra Arlekar's remarks about how he would like his relationship with the state government to be seemed to fuel talk about an outreach. "I don't see any reason there as of now for any clash," PTI quoted him as saying on Monday. "All the people in the government there are sensible. I understand my limitations and they understand theirs."
Nitish's relationship with outgoing governor Phagu Chauhan had been stormy, hitting a low point over the appointment of vice-chancellors.