Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Skips Niti Aayog Meet
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key ally in the BJP-led NDA, joined several opposition-ruled state leaders in skipping the 10th Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting held in New Delhi on May 24, 2025. His absence, particularly as the head of a government aligned with the BJP, has sparked significant political speculation and debate in Bihar and beyond.
Other CMs Who Skipped the Meeting
Alongside Nitish Kumar, Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala), Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), and N Rangasamy (Puducherry) also did not attend the meeting. While the absence of opposition CMs had been announced in advance, Nitish Kumar’s decision stood out since he was reportedly present in Delhi at the time.
Political Reactions and Speculation
Leaders from the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) described Nitish Kumar’s absence as “unfortunate” and suggested it may carry a deeper political message, especially since the meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and focused on long-term development strategies for India.
Senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar called the move “significant,” emphasizing that Nitish Kumar’s decision to skip such a key meeting sends a major political signal within the context of Bihar’s upcoming assembly elections and the Prime Minister’s planned visit to the state.
RJD leader Manoj Jha remarked that the Chief Minister’s absence suggests that “others are deciding his priorities these days,” and expressed concern over the lack of leadership representation at a crucial national development forum.
No Official Explanation Provided
Neither Nitish Kumar’s office nor the Bihar government offered any official explanation for his absence. Instead, Bihar was represented at the meeting by Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, both from the BJP. This is not the first time Nitish Kumar has skipped a Niti Aayog meeting; he was also absent in 2023, with similar arrangements for Bihar’s representation.
Nitish Kumar’s absence is particularly noteworthy as it comes ahead of the Bihar assembly elections and amid heightened political activity in the state, including an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Modi.
The lack of a clear reason for his absence has fueled speculation about potential rifts or strategic positioning within the NDA, especially given his history of shifting political alliances and the current political climate in Bihar.
| Who Skipped? | Political Alignment | Official Reason Given? | Representation at Meeting | Political Reactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitish Kumar (Bihar) | NDA (BJP ally) | No | Deputy CMs (Samrat, Vijay Sinha) | “Unfortunate”, “Significant” |
| Mamata Banerjee (WB) | Opposition | No | Not specified | Less speculation |
| Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) | Opposition | No | Not specified | Less speculation |
| Siddaramaiah (Karnataka) | Opposition | Prior engagement | Not specified | Less speculation |
| N Rangasamy (Puducherry) | NR Congress (UT) | No | Not specified | Less speculation |
Nitish Kumar’s decision to skip the Niti Aayog meeting, despite being in Delhi and leading a BJP-backed government, has generated considerable political buzz. The absence is widely interpreted as carrying a deeper political message, particularly in the context of upcoming state elections and the dynamics within the NDA. The lack of an official explanation has only intensified speculation about his political strategy and the state of the alliance in Bihar.
