With the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar in turmoil, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan — former ally of both State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav — has advised Mr. Kumar to act in time or risk a split in the Janata Dal (U).
Speaking exclusively to The Hindu , Mr Paswan said while the Janata Dal (U) had given a four-day deadline to the RJD to effect the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, the social coalition backing the government favours Mr. Yadav over Mr. Kumar.
“My advise to Nitish Kumar would be not to allow this situation to fester for two or three months and come to a decision quickly, as it is quite possible that the RJD may split the JD(U) as they have the more dependable mass base,” he said.
He added that the nature of the Mahagathbandhan presaged the present crisis.
“ When this government came up , I had said that it won’t last more than two and a half years, because on the one hand, there is a partner who styles himself as Sushasan babu ( man of good governance) while another has been convicted on graft charges. This reflects the inherent opportunism of this alliance. Even if you have different ideologies, you can still come to a political understanding. Here the case was different: it was more like get into power and then misuse it to earn. The cold war in the Mahagathbandhan has been on since its inception, since the issue with regard to [Mohammad] Shahabuddin came up, and it is that situation that is building up to a climax,” he said.
No pain, no gain
“Nitishji should think whether he wants to protect his image. Nobody becomes a martyr by sacrificing a fingernail; you have go the whole hog. If Nitish Kumar is looking for easy ways to save the reputation of his government, that is not going to happen. There is no loss to the NDA in this situation. If this government runs, like a lame cat, it’s alright, and if Nitish Kumar asks for NDA support then, too, he is welcome,” said Mr Paswan.
Having been allied with both parties in the past, Mr. Paswan says he does not underestimate either. “To understand Nitish Kumar is a difficult proposition. If you observe the game of chess, different pieces are played differently. The pawn can move one house, the elephant moves a different way. Nitish Kumar moves like the horse that can move two and a half houses on the chess board at one time,” he said.
About RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Mr Paswan has a clearer view. “Many years ago I had said something about Lalu Prasad Yadav, that his one hand will be towards your feet [in obeisance], another at your throat. When situations are adverse he will be at your feet; when he is well placed, he will assert and dominate. Like he got his son made deputy chief minister. Pehli baar oonth pahaar ke neeche aaya (for the first time he is under duress),” the Minister said.
He said that he was in touch with BJP leaders in Bihar and that the NDA had adopted a wait-and-watch approach. “We are very clear, that there is no vacancy for the post of Prime Minister till 2024. Narendra Modi is our leader. We are waiting and watching the developments,” he said.
