Bihar Political Crisis Live: Grand Alliance in turmoil amid buzz of Nitish Kumar joining hands with BJP

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A new political upheaval has gripped Bihar as speculation is rife that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to break away from the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and join hands with the BJP amid escalating tensions with allies from the INDIA bloc. Sources told India Today that Nitish Kumar may be sworn in for an unprecedented ninth term as Chief Minister on January 28, with BJP leader Sushil Kumar set to take the oath as Deputy Chief Minister. This development follows a meeting in New Delhi between Bihar BJP president Samrat Choudhary, along with senior leaders Sushil Modi and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and top party officials including Amit Shah, sparking buzz that the BJP is open to welcoming the JD(U) chief back into their ranks. Meanwhile, intense negotiations are underway at the residence of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav as Nitish Kumar's Mahagathbandhan coalition partners strive to maintain their hold on power. Over the past two decades, Nitish Kumar has frequently switched alliances between the BJP and the RJD-Congress-Left coalition while retaining his position in office. Stay with Indiatoday.in for all the latest updates on the Bihar political crisis.