Two days ago, the Bihar government released a photograph of chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren meeting President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden at the G20 Summit dinner in Delhi.
It not only triggered an earthquake in Bihar, tremors of which are being felt by all political parties but also put the spotlight on Nitish’s style of politics that relies heavily on insinuations, feints and pressure.
Ironically, this particular snap had first appeared on Modi’s Instagram account after the dinner hosted by President Murmu on Saturday. The import was not lost on those active politics, especially in Bihar, for Nitish is among the leading doyens of the newly assembled Opposition’s alliance — INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).
Among the first to react was poll strategist–turned–politician Prashant Kishor, who is at present on a march across the state as part of his Jan Suraaj (people’s good governance) campaign and is on way to form a political party.
“Nitish has his own style of politics. He opens a door on one side, but at the same time keeps open a window and a vent on the other side to be used if needed. INDIA is the door here while the NDA is the window. This is a form of messaging and pressure politics,” said Kishor, who was with Nitish and his JDU between 2014 and 2020.
Kishor also questioned why Nitish did not visit Delhi last year or on previous occasions when invited by the Centre. He also asserted that Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, who is a member of the JDU, is Nitish’s point person in the NDA.
The Bihar chief minister has been instrumental in bringing the Opposition parties together and the formation of INDIA to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He started the efforts soon after leaving NDA and joining the Grand Alliance to form a new government in the state.
However, despite three meetings of the Opposition alliance, Nitish, in the eyes of his party leaders, stands ignored.
“There is a general opinion in our party that his efforts have not been recognised due to inter-party politics in the INDIA alliance. Though he has no wish for any position, the alliance could have at least made him the convenor. On the other hand, the Congress has taken the lead in everything related to it,” a senior JDU leader told this newspaper.
Incidentally, the Centre released Rs 1942 crore as the first instalment of around Rs 3884 crore fund for the panchayati raj institutions for 2023-24, soon after the Bihar chief minister’s G20 dinner visit despite it being the weekend.
JDU national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh upped the ante by saying that Nitish is now “ready to lead the country. He has been an MLA and five times an MP. Nobody can point a finger at him despite serving as a Union minister for so many years and a chief minister for Bihar for 17 years”.
Reacting to Lalan Singh’s statements, RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav told reporters: “There is no question about Nitish’s capabilities, but there are several leaders in the INDIA alliance who fit the criteria for the Prime Minister’s post. Any decision on this will be taken by all the alliance leaders in a united manner.”
