One must recognize the genius of Nitish Kumar in how easily he switches aspects and aligns along with his sour enemies. Nitish Kumar was once Lalu Yadav’s absolute best good friend at one time and he owes so much to him for his upward push in politics. Yet in 1994, he had no qualms in leaving him and forming his personal political birthday party and in 1996, he aligned with the BJP, a birthday party he used to name communal. He went directly to grow to be a cupboard minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cupboard and later, the Chief Minister of Bihar. Nitish Kumar who didn’t renounce when the Gujarat riots happened, however 11 years later, he realised that Modi was once unhealthy for the rustic and broke his alliance with the BJP when Modi was once made the Prime Ministerial candidate. In 2017, he went again to the similar Modi who had wondered his DNA all the way through the 2015 meeting election.

Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar (File picture)

Now he’s again with Lalu Yadav. What is outstanding is that it was once at all times Nitish Kumar who ditches his companions and not the opposite direction spherical. And such has been his attraction or magnetism that each and every time he has sought established order ante, he has been welcomed by means of the events he ditched. So now, what’s the make sure that he’s going to stay with the secular formation and won’t return to the BJP once more? The solution to this query will decide his standing in nationwide politics. If his attraction as an excellent political seducer continues, he would be the absolute best wager for the anti-Modi formation in 2024. And if he’s noticed with suspicion inside the Opposition camp, his politics will simplest be confined to Bihar.

Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar (File picture)

There is not any denying the truth that Nitish Kumar has stature, revel in, acumen, guile and seniority, and is somebody who can cobble in combination Opposition events beneath one umbrella like Harkishan Singh Surjeet did in 1996 and later in 2004 to construct sufficient enhance for the Manmohan Singh executive to stay the BJP clear of the Centre.

The Opposition as of late is a divided space. There is not any glaring chief and there is not any consensus on one programme to create an organism which will problem the would possibly of Hindutva politics. Mamata Banerjee confirmed flashes of brilliance whilst trouncing the BJP in West Bengal meeting election in May. She has the needful ability and background to contend for the consensus candidate inside the Opposition however her temperament and unpredictability are her greatest enemy. Her behavior all the way through the Goa election and the best way she rubbished the Congress displays her fickleness and immaturity for nationwide politics. Similarly, she didn’t display any adulthood all the way through the hot Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections. She has allowed herself to be noticed as mercurial and selfish, missing a countrywide outlook or any long-term way to fulfil her nationwide ambition. She is a senior determine inside the Opposition however it is unsure that she can be its selected one, so that you could discuss.

Mamata Banerjee (File picture)

Sharad Pawar has the stature and revel in however for some unknown reason why, he isn’t ready to play a Surjeet-type position. In the previous few years, excluding for uniting the Opposition in Maharashtra to shape the federal government beneath Uddhav Thackeray’s management, he has proven no inclination for nationwide politics. KCR is any other baby-kisser who may have performed a pivotal position like NTR did in past due Eighties. He did attempt to meet Opposition leaders within the contemporary previous however his antipathy in opposition to the Congress is a smart hindrance for Opposition harmony. It is obvious that he has the ambition to occupy the top-most task within the nation. Despite being from Telangana, he speaks excellent Hindi. But he must be extra versatile if he desires to play a larger position in nationwide politics.

Okay Chandrashekar Rao (File picture)

Given this void, Nitish Kumar will also be an asset for the Opposition. He is versatile, does now not make debatable remarks in opposition to different events, can pick out up the telephone and contact somebody, be it Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, KCR, Arvind Kejriwal or Sitaram Yechury. It is because of this that he’s unhealthy information for BJP and Modi. Absence of Opposition harmony has been the largest boon for the PM but when Nitish Kumar succeeds in uniting the Opposition, which he’s in a position to, then 2024 is probably not simple for the PM.

Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav

With Nitish’s go out, the BJP may just achieve in the end in Bihar; not in his shadow, it might probably paintings on rising in a couple of years as the largest birthday party to shape the federal government by itself. Bihar is the one Hindi-speaking state the place the BJP hasn’t ever controlled to go the bulk quantity. It has at all times performed a supporting position. Even in 2020, when it had extra MLAs within the meeting elections than Nitish Kumar, it determined to not lead the federal government. How a lot BJP lacked in self belief was once obvious from the truth that within the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it surrendered 5 seats that it had gained to the JDU. In 2014, it had 29.5% votes and in 2019, it were given simplest 23.5% votes – this stands proud for the reason that it garnered greater than 50% votes in all different Hindi-speaking states in 2019.

But a achieve in Bihar will also be disadvantageous in nationwide politics. Without Nitish Kumar, the BJP’s Lok Sabha seats may just cut back. If the JDU and the RJD come to a decision to contest the overall election in conjunction with the Congress and the Left in 2024, then in Bihar, in spite of the Modi magic, the BJP may just take successful and that will affect its status in parliament.

For now, Nitish Kumar has proved that the BJP will also be outsmarted. He will feed off this for some time.

(Ashutosh is writer of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and Editor, satyahindi.com.)

Disclaimer: These are the private reviews of the writer.