WATCH: Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav Take Same Flight to Delhi Amid Coalition Speculation

With hectic parleys on to form the next government at the Centre, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders Tejashwi Yadav left for Delhi on the same flight on Wednesday. According to reports, the two Bihar leaders, one and ally of the BJP, and the other with Congress, boarded a Vistara flight at 10:30 am.

All eyes will be on what goes on between the two leaders on board the flight, with Congress-led INDIA bloc looking at the possibility of forming the government at the Centre. Nitish and Tejashwi were alliance partners just months ago, before the Bihar Chief Minister switched his loyalties to the BJP.

The JDU has made it clear that it will remain in the NDA fold as an ally of the BJP to form the government at the Centre. JDU leader KC Tyagi said there was no question of going back on their decision to be part of NDA. “Both of them being on the same flight was by chance. There is no question of JDU going back. Hopefully, we will continue to say this,” Tyagi told CNN-News18.

The JDU has won 12 seats in Bihar while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 12. NDA ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), under the leadership of Chirag Paswan has won five seats.

JDU leaders met Nitish Kumar on Wednesday morning to discuss government formation.

On Tuesday, JDU spokesperson KC Tyagi said that the JDU will remain with NDA even as speculation is rife about INDIA bloc partners getting in touch with Nitish Kumar. “We continue with our previous stand. Under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, JD(U) once again expresses its support in NDA… We are with the NDA, we will continue to be with the NDA,” Tyagi said.

Sources told CNN-News18 that NCP chief and INDIA bloc ally Sharad Pawar had dialled Nitish Kumar even as results were trickling in. Soon after, deputy CM and Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary went to Nitish’s residence to call on him.

Nitish, who has often been called ‘Paltu Kumar’, switching from one alliance to another within months, is now kingmaker as the BJP has won 240 seats in Lok Sabha Elections, 32 short of majority. While the NDA has 292 seats, the alliance would need its partners to hold on and not switch sides.

Meanwhile, LJP leader Chirag Paswan, who met Nitish Kumar today, has also made it clear that they will stick with the NDA. After meeting Bihar Nitish Kumar, Paswan said, “It was not a day to hold discussions but only to congratulate the CM. The manner in which the CM strengthened our alliance. The credit for the NDA’s performance in Bihar goes to the leadership of PM Modi as well as Nitish Kumar. All MPs of my party met him to congratulate him, thank him and seek his blessings…We are now going to Delhi for the NDA meeting…”