While the maverick Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is set to part with INDIA bloc posing question about the future of the alliance in the state, the top leaders of alliance held a mini-INDIA meet in Tamil Nadu pledging to defeat the BJP. Displaying the adroitness of the INDIA bloc, Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin emphasised that INDIA bloc leaders have to realise that when the BJP was rattled at the prospect of a win for the Opposition alliance even at the level of a mayor poll in Chandigarh, unity among constituents will dislodge the saffron party from power at the Centre.
Stalin’s word of caution was simply not a coincidence. He meant it and it was primarily aimed at Nitish who out of personal frustration was working tirelessly to damage the very concept of opposition unity. None had expected that for the sake of his own personal interest he would trample all the parameters of decency. At a Republic Day celebration, one seat marked for Deputy chief minister, Tejashvi Yadav, was kept by the side of Nitish’s chair. Nitish’s blue eyed minister Ashok Choudhary reached him and tore away the name sticker stuck on the chair and occupied it. To the surprise of the people gathered for the event, Nitish did not advise him to desist from this “Unparliamentary” act.
Not only the leaders of the Mahagathbandhan including the left parties were shocked at this behaviour of Nitish’s chum, even some of the senior BJP leaders present on the occasion were stunned. One of them quipped “it simply manifest desperation of Nitish and at the same time his abhorrence towards Tejashvi and INDIA bloc leaders”.
While the INDIA bloc leaders, from RJD to left, are yet to comprehend the real reason behind this move of Nitish, some BJP leaders who do not subscribe to his devious manoeuvrings and share the common prevailing perception of his being “habitual political variable” and “enduring Paltu Ram” (deserter) are shocked at his walking straight into the political honey trap. He is simply not committing hara-kiri, but has sacrificed all the good works he has done for the people and the state.
Not only the BJP leaders, even the academics and social activists have a word of caution for him. They say “may be he is under pressure from Lalu Yadav to install Tejashvi as the chief minister at the earliest, but one thing is sure that Lalu never insulted him. In contrast Modi and Shah used to humiliate him while he headed the NDA government before parting from BJP to form the Mahagathbandhan government with RJD, Congress and Left parties. None else but Nitish had made it public after coming out of the NDA government in August 2022”.
Political watchers assert that Modi has not spared any possible opportunity from insulting him, whether it is on the issue of making Patna University into a central university or granting of special status to Bihar. Modi never bothered for the wishes and prestige of Nitish. It would be naïve too. Modi who does not respect his seniors, who insulted L K Advani who catapulted him as the prime minister, could never be expected that he would respect Nitish.
Modi embracing Nitish and opening his doors for him, much against the public declaration of Amit Shah that is too at a rally in Bihar that the gates of BJP have been shut for ever for Nitish, makes it abundantly clear that it is propelled more by electoral compulsion than love for Nitish. Modi is also aware of the fact that consecration of Ram Temple will not have any religious or psychological impact on the people, particularly the Dalits, Mahadalits and EBCs of the state. For winning the election it is imperative that he must exploit the name and image of Nitish.
But one development which has not gone unnoticed is the delay shown by Modi in reciprocating to Nitish’s overtures. Of course Modi and Shah for more than two months have been contemplating to have Nitish on their side, but they refrained from exhibiting it publicly. The sources affirm that three cabinet ministers of Nitish, acting at the instructions of Modi and Shah have done the ground work for return of Nitish to NDA.
Even some BJP leaders confess that they have been in touch with them and their national leaders. They were feeling uncomfortable with Tejashvi. They had also planned for removal of Chandrashekhar a minister from RJD quota. He used to speak out his mind openly against the wrong decisions of the government.
Modi has joined hands with Nitish to gain the votes of Dalits, mahadalits and EBCs. But it is misnomer. The assembly election of 2020 had sent a clear message that the poor and proletariats of Bihar continue to be loyal to the left forces, especially the CPI(ML). In last election the CPI(ML) led left front had contested on its own and won 16 seats. In some constituencies the RJD had fielded its candidates against the left. But failed miserably. JD(U) could not perform well as the Dalits and mahadalits and proletariats did not support it.
It would also be naïve to believe that RJD chief Lalu Yadav would allow Nitish to dictate the terms after he finally parts. He is already working on plan to split the JD(U). The sources maintain that OBC legislators of JD(U), nearly a dozen, have decided to switch over their allegiance to RJD in case Nitish severs his relation with INDIA bloc. Nitish is also planning to claim the credit for appointment of 2.25 lakh teachers and other development works the alliance government had done. But the RJD is also ready with its plan to put the fact in public domain; how he did it under pressure from RJD.
This time’s somersault might not augur well for Nitish. Literally a move to expose him has been making round in the political and social circle of the state. Nitish in his ebullience to appease Modi has gone beyond the script by speaking on dynastic rule. He simply reiterated Modi’s line. But this has not gone well with the RJD and its cadres and leaders. In fact the lead to rebut Nitish has come from Rohni Acharya, daughter of Lalu. In some tweets she wrote; “Samajwadi purodha hone ka karta wahi dava hai, hawaon ki tarah badalti jiski vichardhara hai (He, whose ideology changes like winds, claims to be a socialist stalwart or master)”.
Her second tweet was “Kheej jataye kya hoga jab hua na koi apna yogya, vidhi ka Vidhan kaun tale jab khud ki niyat mein ho khot (Venting frustration will not bear any result because none of his own came up as capable. Who can deflect divine destiny, when one’s own intention has fault)”. She further wrote: “Aksar kuchh log nahin dekh paate hain apni kamiyan, lekin kisi doosre pe kichad uchhalne ko karte hain badtamiziyan (Often people do not see their own deficiencies, but indulge in insolence to throw mud on others).”Nitish might leave INDIA bloc and join NDA again under Narendra Modi, but his own political career is nearly finished, his image has got the biggest hit and he may not recover from it again. (IPA Service)
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