Bihar is a hyper-political state however likes its leaders part-jester part-dabang (sturdy guy). Nitish Kumar, 71, loves to consider he has situated himself as a significant baby-kisser even supposing he party-hops automatically searching for companions. Today, he’s swapping the BJP for an older flame, Tejashwi Yadav. All in useless seriousness.
Dumping the BJP for the second one time in 5 years, Nitish Kumar desires to exhibit that he laws his Janata Dal United (JDU) and Bihar with an iron hand and does not undergo every other claimant for energy.
From 2015 to 2017, he was once companions with the Congress and Tejashwi Yadav who heads the RJD. That alliance incorporated the Congress and Nitish Kumar walked out of it into the open palms of the BJP after accusing Tejashwi Yadav of corruption.
Tejashwi Yadav and Nitish Kumar (File picture)
Nitish Kumar was once at the BJP’s nationwide crew for many years. But he has during the last decade been promiscuous about companions so long as he stays ensconced as Chief Minister. Despite the bitterness with Tejashwi Yadav, who used to seek advice from him as “paltu chacha” (turncoat uncle), Nitish Kumar has controlled to construct bridges with the more youthful baby-kisser within the hope that he’s going to be sworn in as Chief Minister for the 8th time in 22 years in Bihar. If he pulls it off, it will be fairly the feat: he has fewer seats (43) than the BJP (74) or Tejashwi Yadav (80).
Tejashwi Yadav might permit this as it provides him an opportunity to go back to energy with a prize caste combo. The RJD has a lock at the 14.4 % of Yadav vote and the 17 % Muslim vote in Bihar, and Nitish Kumar brings within the ati pichdas (maximum backward) electorate. Kumar is from the Kurmi caste which, at 4 %, isn’t electorally important.
Tejashwi Yadav lately co-opted 4 of the 5 MLAs of Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM in June. Owaisi has lengthy been accused by way of his detractors of enjoying because the BJP’s “B-Team” and the entire regional events in Bihar are unanimous on no longer permitting Owaisi to develop in Bihar.
Asaduddin Owaisi (File picture)
Nitish Kumar were signalling his anger BJP for some time now. He delivered public snubs at the new Agneepath military recruitment scheme. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah remained chilly. Nitish Kumar then refused to turn up for a Niti Aayog assembly this week and likewise boycotted the PM’s dinner for President Droupadi Murmu. Nitish Kumar’s public slug-fest with former shut aide RCP Singh who was once denied a Rajya Sabha seat and compelled to go away the union cupboard was once in truth shadow boxing with PM Modi and Amit Shah.
Fearful of the BJP’s hegemonic expansion on the expense of allies, Nitish Kumar dialled Sonia Gandhi after the cave in of the Uddhav Thackeray govt in June. Sources say Sonia Gandhi was once receptive to Nitish Kumar’s issues and nudged alongside the patch-up along side the Yadav circle of relatives. Sonia Gandhi additionally spoke to Lalu Yadav who counselled son Tejashwi to let bygones be bygones.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sonia Gandhi and Nitish Kumar (File picture)
Once Tejashwi was once on board, the brand new Team Nitish was once a pass. The events will just about have the similar energy proportion because the closing time they teamed up in combination. Kumar will proceed as Chief Minister.
From being an extraordinary heartland chief who publicly made a lot of his internal voice and sense of right and wrong, Nitish Kumar is now derided as Kumar Chair (Chair-hungry Kumar) however he nonetheless holds rapid to his tenderly-nursed, decades-old want to be Prime Minister. With his go back to the Opposition and Mamata Banerjee’s fresh symbol issues of corruption with Partha Chatterjee being stuck with truckloads of money, Nitish Kumar senses alternative.
I spoke to a pacesetter very just about Nitish Kumar; he mentioned “Nitish babu North India mein appropriate hain. Pawar gold Banerjee koh unhe maanna chahiye” (Nitish Kumar is appropriate to all of North India. Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee must settle for that”.)
A swearing-in with new companions is at the playing cards and so is floating new ambitions. Nitish Kumar in a nutshell.
(Swati Chaturvedi is an creator and a journalist who has labored with The Indian Express, The Statesman and The Hindustan Times.)
Disclaimer: These are the non-public evaluations of the creator.
Source Link: https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/the-sonia-lalu-factor-in-nitish-kumars-break-up-with-bjp-3239112