PATNA: Nitish Kumar become Bihar Chief Minister less than a year ago. The opposition’s most powerful rival to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is seen as a towering figure. Today, Kumar who is known as the top challenger to PM Modi in the opposition has been caught up in political storm as he tries to convince the Prime Minister and senior members of BJP but also his own loyalists that he remains unwaveringly committed to this saffron alliance.
In Aurangabad some time ago, Kumar appeared alongside Modi with an attempt to clear any doubts. He begged: “I may have lost track only for a while, though be sure I am now back on track”. keeping state forever. alliance secret.
Kumar is an exuberant individual and took charge at several rallies alongside the star campaigners of BJP. However, many felt that there were loopholes in Kumar’s speech regarding NDA being a permanent affair. With memories of past promises speedily forgotten by voters who know his history in political gymnastics.
Rajesh Rathore spokesperson of Bihar Congress Committee said twice after making statement that was loud and clear, people have not forgotten what Nitish says during a rally: ‘hum mitti mein mil jayenge lekin BJP ke sath nahi jayenge (I would rather be buried than go back to the BJP).’ This has eroded Kumar’s credibility according to Rajesh Rathorre party’s spokesperson for its Bihar Congress Committee.
Nitish even had to reject explicitly during 2010 Assembly polls in Bihar how Bharatiya Janata Party suggested they should invite the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi into contesting from Bihar. Although BJP is eager for Modi to campaign for them especially among Muslims whom it warned against him given fresh pressure arising out of allegations that he failed in suppressing 2002 Godhra post-riots.
However current JD(U) candidates are only contesting 16 out of 40 seats in Bihar which is quite low in comparison to all previous elections. Still, the arrangement did not seem to bother Kumar too much. This speaks volumes about his fall from grace as a staunch opponent to a pliant ally.
According to a senior BJP official, the JD(U) candidate wanted Modi and Amit Shah (Home Minister) at his rally. At some places party workers canvassed for BJP by carrying banners containing pictures of PM seeking votes in Modi’s name.
Kumar at seventy-three is now facing his sternest political test ever on this treacherous terrain. With every rally, every assurance Kumar seeks to dispel any misgivings about his loyalty but it remains unclear if he can come out of Bihar’s political maze unscathed.
Kumar had been haunted for years by those remarks while crisscrossing the heartland of Bihar during this election campaign. “‘When Bihar already has its own Modi, it needs another Modi,’” Uday Shankar Chaudhary remembers Nitish speaking about then Deputy Prime Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi. The trajectory of the party since October 30th, 2003 when it was established.
However today Kumar finds himself increasingly delimiting himself with BJP’s agenda so that his quest for self-rule becomes remote due to exigency of coalition politics thereby changing him into advocating for “400 pals” slogan for Mr. Modi in contrast with early claim that only 50 would be won by BJP if that united opposition emerges whatsoever.
This election is crucial for JD(U) because the party had focused exclusively on Bihar after its unfruitful attempt to persuade BJP into merging with them in other states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and even Lakshadweep.
Kumar and his allies are currently facing new challenges due to the unpredictable political dynamics in Bihar. The stakes continue escalating as the elections proceed and their outcome will shape the future direction of politics in Bihar. Kumar’s journey from ‘Ram of Paltu’ to a potential kingmaker in this new big game of Indian politics which witnesses alliances being made and broken at frequent intervals is far from over.