It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of the number of times Nitish has left allies and changed partners.
In a way, he has become a trend setter in changing partners. Usually, politicians and parties change alliances for the state or Lok Sabha Election. However, Nitish has got used to changing partners when no one is talking about elections.
In a span of 5 years – from July 2017 to July 2022 – Nitish was the first to leave the Grand Alliance NDA And now again left the NDA to return to the Grand Alliance.
So, why is Nitish always leaving the alliance after a few years? Is it because changing partners has become Kumar’s second nature? Former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad had said this about Nitish in August 2017.
“Nitish is like a snake. Like a snake sheds its skin and takes a new birth, Nitish does the same thing every 2 years. Any doubt about it?”
Nitish is a snake, just like a snake sheds its derm, so Nitish also sheds its derm and wears a new leather like a snake every two years. Doubt anyone?
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) 1501770004000
To avoid a repetition of the ‘Chirag model’ or Uddhav Thackeray-like fortunes?
Did Nitish leave NDA before repeating Maharashtra in Bihar? Like JD(U) Shiv Sena is a regional party and does not enjoy a majority on its own. In fact, Shiv Sena and JD(U) have never achieved a majority on their own. They always had to depend on coalitions to form the government. Uddhav Thackeray He had to step down as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra due to the rebellion of his own Shiv Sena MLAs. The Shiv Sena rebellion was led by Eknath Shinde, who was once a key ally of Thackeray. Now, Eknath Shinde is leading the rebel government of Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra.
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According to reports, RCP Singh, a former Union minister and a prominent JD(U) leader, was in talks to slam Nitish Kumar and repeat the Bihar experiment in Maharashtra.
The JD(U), on its part, has openly alleged that through RCP Singh, the BJP is trying to carry out the “chirag model” like in the 2020 assembly elections.
“The Chirag model was implemented during the 2020 assembly elections. Another ‘Chirag model’ was being prepared. If necessary in future, I will point out that the JD(U) is being used to reduce Nitish Kumar’s huge political personality. How and when were the conspiracies hatched. JD(U) chief Rajeev Ranjan alias Lalan Singh said. “But now, all of us JD(U) workers and leaders under Nitish’s leadership are alert and we Will not allow any conspiracy against my party.”
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National ambition?
JD(U) under the leadership of Nitish Kumar is in power in Bihar for almost 17 years. The law of diminishing returns in Bihar seems to be in the grip of Kumar and the JD(U). The JD(U) had slipped to the third position in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections. Clearly, Nitish can sense the declining appeal of the JD(U) in Bihar. Could going national be another way to revive the fortunes of him and the JD(U) in Bihar? It is an open secret that Nitish Kumar has national ambitions. But Kumar is well aware that there is no chance of fulfilling his national ambitions while in NDA.
Returning to the fold of the Grand Alliance, Kumar can expect to emerge as a key leader of the opposition camp to take on the PM Modi-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. But given his past alliance with the BJP and the many ups and downs, there is no guarantee that Nitish will be acceptable to all in the opposition ranks. Then there is Congress and Rahul Gandhi too. But a national role could help Nitish Kumar rekindle his party’s fortunes in Bihar.
End of the road?
It is quite possible that this may be Nitish Kumar’s last switch-hit. When can RJD and Tejashwi Yadav be ready to play second fiddle to Nitish Kumar? Sooner or later, Tejashwi will want to be the chief minister of Bihar and Nitish may have to agree to it – immediately or reluctantly. It is said that nothing is impossible in politics. But how many flip-flops can Nitish do and survive?
Come 2024 and we can see Nitish Kumar emerge as a national challenger to PM Modi and revive his and JD(U) fortunes in Bihar. However, if the JD(U) fails to win more seats than the RJD in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Nitish Kumar may have to vacate the CM’s chair for Tejashwi.
(with inputs from agencies)