The relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, which has oscillated between cooperation and tension, seems to have reached a moreamicable phase.

At the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga on Wednesday, the two leaders once again displayed a camaraderie that had been notably absent during and after the last Lok Sabha elections, leading political experts to believe that Nitishhas the backing of the Prime Minister in retaining the chief ministerial chair if elected to power in the 2025Assembly elections.

After delivering his speech at the event, Nitish attempted to touch Modi’s feet as a mark of respect while returning to his seat. This caught Modi off guard, who swiftly stopped him by holding his hands and guided him back to his chair.

While the two have been political allies as part of the NDA, their relationship had become somewhat frosty during the general election campaigns.

Modi, in particular, refrained from showering praise on Nitish, and the chief minister’s absence at several of Modi’s rallies in Bihar fueled speculation of underlying tensions.

Though Nitish supported the BJP-led government at the Centre when it faced a shortfall in securing a majority, Modi did not reciprocate the gesture by granting Bihar the oft-demanded special status.

However, during Wednesday’s event, Modi seemed to take a step towards mending the rift. He lauded Nitish’s leadership, commending him for his role in bringing good governance to a state that had once been plaguedby lawlessness.

The Prime Minister described Nitish as a “lokpriya mukhyamantri” (popular chief minister) and praised his efforts to transform Bihar from the era of “jungle raj” to one of rapid, all-arounddevelopment.

In his address, which lasted around 40 minutes, Modi said: “Nitish babu has set up a model of sushasan (good governance). No praise is too high for him for his contribution in pulling Bihar out of the era of jungle raj. Now, under the NDA’s double-engine government, the state is makingrapid progress.”

The Prime Minister’s remarks marked a clear departure from the earlier tension between the two leaders, offering a more public affirmation of Nitish’s leadership and contributions toBihar’s development.

He also lambasted the previous regimes in the state, ruled by the Congress-RJD combine for 15 years before the NDA assumed power in 2005, for hoodwinking the people with “false(jhoothe) promises”.

Earlier, Nitish had thanked the PM for AIIMS, Darbhanga, even as he recalled having first requested the super-specialty hospital in the north Bihar town with late BJP leader Arun Jaitley.

“We have taken a big step towards the dream to have an AIIMS in Darbhanga. It will bring a change in the health sector and benefit the people of Mithila, Kosi, Tirhut regions (of Bihar), Bengal and others living in the neighbouring areas. The people of Nepal could also gettreated here. It will also increase the opportunities of employment and self-employment,” Modi said.

The 750-bed hospital will be constructed at a cost of ₹1,264 crore over 188 acres.