What Next For Nitish Kumar
Bihar is yet again witnessing political turmoil as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to cross over to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) again, an alliance he left in 2022 to join hands with the Opposition and form ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
Several NDA leaders including former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi have indicated an alliance breakdown between Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar.
Why Nitish Kumar cannot be ignored by INDIA or BJP ahead of Lok Sabha Polls
Yesterday, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the door can be opened if needed, indicating a possible revival of ties between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar -led JDU and his former ally, the BJP.
Patna: Political circles are abuzz with reports that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may join hands with BJP again, a party he had parted ways with in 2022. Mr Kumar’s exit would spell trouble for the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ coalition in Bihar.
Leadership Change in Bihar: Bihar plunged into a political crisis as Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister, resigned from his position.
Mahagathbandhan Disintegration: The crisis was triggered by the disintegration of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, comprising JD(U), RJD, and Congress.
Corruption Allegations: Nitish Kumar’s decision to step down was fueled by corruption allegations against his Deputy CM, Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD.
Alignment with BJP: Nitish sought a new political alignment and swiftly formed an alliance with the BJP to secure the necessary support.
Return to CM Office: Following this realignment, Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister again, backed by the BJP.
Continued Alliance in Elections: The JD(U) and BJP maintained their alliance during the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, achieving a majority.
Re-election as CM: Nitish Kumar secured re-election as Chief Minister after the successful electoral campaign.
Upcoming 2022 Polls: Bihar is gearing up for assembly polls in 2022, setting the stage for potential shifts in political dynamics.
Persisting Challenges: Nitish faces challenges in managing coalition dynamics and addressing crucial developmental issues in the state.
Future Political Moves: Nitish Kumar’s future decisions will play a pivotal role in shaping Bihar’s political trajectory amid ongoing changes.
Here are 10 facts about the ongoing Bihar political crisis:
1.Nitish Kumar has jumped between the BJP, Congress, and/or Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal since 2013, so much so that he has acquired the moniker ‘Paltu Ram‘. After parting ways with the BJP in 2022, he had taken on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the 2024 elections.
2.The latest speculation about his switch was triggered after the BJP awarded a Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, to former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoor Thakur. Mr Thakur was an iconic socialist leader who was Chief Minister twice in the 1970s and is credited with implementing the state’s contentious alcohol prohibition policy. Still remembered today as ‘Jan Nayak’, or ‘leader of the people’, Karpoori Thakur’s legacy remains a valuable asset for political parties today.
3.Nitish Kumar visited the Bihar Governor’s residence on Republic Day without his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, hinting at the discord between his party Janata Dal (United), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
4.Nitish Kumar’s former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi’s cryptic statement, “No door is closed in politics. The door can be opened if needed,” has added another layer of suspense to the development.
5.According to leaders close to the 72-year-old, the January 13 meeting of the INDIA alliance was the turning point. In that meeting, Nitish Kumar’s name was proposed as Convenor by CPM Leader Sitaram Yechury and endorsed by almost all leaders, including Lalu Yadav and Sharad Pawar. However, Rahul Gandhi interjected and said a decision on this would have to wait as Trinamool Congress leader and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had reservations over Nitish Kumar for the role.
6.A flurry of activities have started across Bihar adding fire to the reports that Nitish Kumar will bid adieu to the now-stuttering Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc.
7.The Bihar government transferred 79 Indian Police Service (IPS) and 45 Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers on Friday.
8.The BJP has convened a meeting to discuss strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, hinting at a possible alliance with Nitish Kumar. State unit chief Samrat Choudhary downplays speculations, but sources say behind-the-scenes discussions are on.
9.Amid the crisis, both the Congress and RJD have called for meetings of their legislators. But Congress denies any connection to the evolving political scenario and claims that the meeting is to discuss preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’.
10.Nitish Kumar has convened a session of the legislature party at 10 am on Sunday. Reports suggest that he could join hands and officially stake claim to the Chief Minister post for an unprecedented ninth time, backed by the BJP later tomorrow.
