In a surprising turn of events, former Jehanabad MP Arun Kumar, who once publicly threatened to "break Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's ribs," has rejoined the Janata Dal (United). The reunion took place on Saturday, October 11, 2025, marking a significant shift in Bihar's political landscape.
Arun Kumar's return to the JD(U) comes after a period of bitter criticism against Nitish Kumar. The former MP has had a complex relationship with the Chief Minister, dating back to their days in the Samata Party. Kumar has parted ways with Nitish Kumar on more than one occasion.
The most notable instance of their strained relationship occurred on June 27, 2015, when Arun Kumar made national headlines for publicly threatening Nitish Kumar. This led to a criminal case and a subsequent three-year sentence by a special MP-MLA court.
Despite their tumultuous past, Nitish Kumar, not typically known for forgiving political adversaries, has readmitted Arun Kumar into the party. This move has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the JD(U)'s strategy in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.
Arun Kumar and Jagdish Sharma, both political heavyweights in Magadh, have made significant political shifts. While Kumar rejoined the JD(U), Sharma's son, Rahul, joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Both Kumar and Sharma belong to the Bhumihar caste and have risen in politics without mentors or political patronage. They are reportedly seeking a proxy return to electoral politics through their sons.
Meanwhile, in other Bihar political news, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), after being spurned by the INDIA bloc, announced its intention to contest approximately 100 seats in the upcoming state assembly polls. This is a significant increase from the last elections, where they contested only a fraction of that number. Additionally, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has begun his campaign from Raghopur, Tejashwi Yadav's home turf, vowing to defeat him in a similar fashion to "Rahul Gandhi's defeat in Amethi".
