In a significant political development, the Janata Dal (United) has officially distanced itself from a demand made by one of its own senior figures for the Bharat Ratna to be awarded to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The party clarified its stance on January 10, 2026, a day after the controversial letter surfaced.
The Controversial Demand and Its Contents
JD(U) advisor and former Member of Parliament KC Tyagi had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India's highest civilian honour for the Bihar Chief Minister. In his communication, Tyagi argued that there were precedents for honouring living politicians with the Bharat Ratna.
He hailed Nitish Kumar as one of India's "last socialist icons" and stated that the JD(U) chief deserved the recognition for his work. Tyagi's letter referenced the recent conferment of the award on former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur and former PM Choudhary Charan Singh, crediting PM Modi's efforts for those decisions.
"Overwhelmed by such efforts, we believe that the gem of socialist movement, Nitish Kumar, also deserves this honour," the letter stated. It further requested the Prime Minister to confer the Bharat Ratna on Kumar "so that history appreciates your gesture for a long time."
Party's Swift Disavowal and Internal Dynamics
The party's reaction was swift and clear. JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad explicitly stated that the party does not endorse Tyagi's view. In a remark that highlighted potential internal distances, Prasad noted that Tyagi was "hardly associated with party activities, so much so that one wonders if he is in the party or not."
Prasad emphasized that Nitish Kumar has been working for Bihar and that the party was distancing itself from Tyagi's statement. He pointed out that Tyagi had, "of late, made several statements in his personal capacity." Notably, the party has not taken any disciplinary action against Tyagi nor sought a formal clarification from him regarding the letter.
Personal Capacity Claims and External Support
Echoing the party's line, KC Tyagi himself confirmed to The Indian Express that the opinion expressed in the letter was his own, made in a "personal capacity." He clarified, "I've never claimed that it was the party's stand."
Tyagi, who claims to have known Nitish Kumar for over five decades, reiterated his personal belief that Kumar deserves the honour as the last of India's socialist icons for his work towards social parity and women empowerment.
Interestingly, the demand found an external supporter in Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) patron and Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Taking to social media platform X, Manjhi said, "Bharat Ratna Nitish Kumar ji… sounds lovely, doesn't it?" He expressed confidence that PM Modi, known for surprising decisions, would "once again astonish us" by awarding the honour to the Bihar CM.
The episode underscores the delicate and often complex nature of political endorsements and party discipline within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) framework in Bihar. While a senior figure's personal admiration for his leader sparked the controversy, the party's quick move to disown the demand highlights a cautious approach to avoid any perception of lobbying for the prestigious award.
