Now Reading: JD(U) hits back at Sonia Gandhi over Nitish Kumar remarks
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JD(U) hits back at Sonia Gandhi over Nitish Kumar remarks
The Story in Brief
Sonia Gandhi's reported remarks on Nitish Kumar's exit from the INDIA bloc have drawn sharp counterattacks from the Janata Dal (United). At the Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, 29 September, Gandhi said Kumar had been 'constantly looking for new ways to exit' and was 'always meant to go there', according to India Today and ABP Live. Rediff reports Gandhi called Kumar a 'traitor', though no other source uses that exact word.
Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said Kumar 'does not need Sonia Gandhi's certificate', the Times of India reports. JD(U) working president Sanjay Jha countered that several INDIA bloc members had wanted a 'Congress-minus front', and that Kumar left after seeing the Congress's 'immaturity', India Today reports. The exchange came as the CWC adopted a resolution demanding the suspension of electoral roll revision and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The INDIA bloc met on Wednesday, 30 September, to coordinate a joint response on the electoral roll issue.
Update, 30 September 2026: JD(U) leaders Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Sanjay Jha on Wednesday, 30 September, attacked Sonia Gandhi for her reported remarks on Nitish Kumar, with Singh saying Kumar 'does not need Sonia Gandhi's certificate', the Times of India reports. Rediff reports Gandhi called Kumar a 'traitor', though other sources do not confirm that word. Jha claimed several INDIA bloc members had wanted a front without the Congress.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pro-government sources JD(U) leaders' rebuttal, calling Sonia Gandhi's remarks 'objectionable' and saying Kumar 'transformed Bihar'. Critical outlets like Rediff and ABP Live highlight the internal Congress friction and report Gandhi's harsher language. India Today and the Times of India report the dispute with JD(U) retorts verbatim, while Deccan Herald and NDTV keep focus on the CWC exchange. The uniform reporting across outlets confirms the internal Congress disagreement over Nitish Kumar, but the newer JD(U) retaliation shifts the story from party debate to coalition warfare. The JD(U) defence on 30 September now sets the political line ahead of any joint opposition action.
The INDIA bloc meeting on 30 September remains the next concrete test of opposition unity.
Coverage: 9 sources, 8 neutral, 1 sensationalist
Sources (9): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), ndtv.com (neutral report), deccanherald.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), abplive.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (2) (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (neutral report), rediff.com (sensationalist)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 9 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
