The chameleon, a lizard that changes the colour of its skin to match its surroundings as a means of survival. In Hindi, a girgit.

This description was on almost every lip, in almost every social media post and every stab of sarcasm on Sunday.

“Nitish Kumar, who so frequently changes political partners, is giving tough competition to the colour-changing chameleons,” Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said.

Lalu Prasad’s son and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav’s post on X read: “Girgit to bas yun hi badnam hai. Rang badalne ki rafter se toe Paltis Kumar ko bhi ‘Girgit ratna’ se sammanit karna chahiye (The chameleon gets a bad name for no reason. The speed with which Paltis Kumar changes colour should earn him the Girgit Ratna award).”

Political observers confessed themselves bewildered by the JDU leader’s latest political flip-flop, conceding that the scale of his betrayals boggled the imagination. While some tried to fathom the depth of embarrassment that would have befallen the Opposition grouping INDIA had Nitish been made its convener, others thanked Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi for blocking his appointment.

There is no denying that Nitish Kumar’s chameleon turn has damaged the optics and narrative of Opposition unity. The Bihar chief minister was doubtless seen as a frontline warrior of the INDIA bloc, and his leap into the BJP’s lap would have sown doubts in many minds about the seriousness of the Opposition’s belief in its own democracy-in-peril charge.

How can one of the commanders of the force that is out to save democracy join the ruler accused of smothering democracy, some may be asking. INDIA leaders know they will have to rebuild their credibility, with the entire show now beginning to resemble a slapstick comedy to many.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav interpreted the development as proof of the BJP’s weakness. “The BJP was never so weak. They are setting new records of betrayal. The people will teach them a lesson. There is no bigger defeat than the loss of trust,” he said. “They have restricted a prime ministerial candidate to the post of chief minister. The BJP has insulted the people of Bihar. This shows its fear of losing the parliamentary elections.”

Ramesh said the INDIA grouping had faced a small roadblock but emphasised that its other constituents were rock solid in their determination to fight the BJP. “The people of Bihar will never forgive this expert in betrayal and those who are making him dance to their tune,” Ramesh said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “There are lots of Aya Rams and Gaya Rams in politics. Those who want to go will go.”