Nitish Kumar has spoken and what he had to say is unlikely to have warmed the cockles of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s heart. The Bihar Chief Minister did not name names but the message was as loud as it could get: he would look elsewhere if the BJP was insistent on projecting Narendra Modi as the National Democratic Alliance’s prime ministerial choice. Of course, in politics nothing is final till it is final. Even so, it was evident that Mr. Kumar had crossed a critical threshold in his relationship with his long-term ally. Not only did the Janata Dal (United) chief exude style, there was enough and more symbolism in how and where he made his speech. Mr. Kumar flexed his muscles at a well-attended rally, not in Patna where mustering the crowds would have been easy enough, but in the Capital where the BJP and other national parties are headquartered. He flagged the ‘inclusive’ character of Bihar’s development, thereby thumbing his nose at the BJP’s much-celebrated ‘development’ man. And if doubts persisted, he dispelled them by asserting that he had better credentials to rule at the Centre: “This is only a trailer and it shows that Biharis are ready to rule Delhi in 2014.”
Admittedly this is not the first time the Bihar Chief Minister has sparred and warred with the BJP on the issue of Mr. Modi. He has snubbed the Gujarat Chief Minister publicly on many occasions and warned the BJP against sending him to Bihar to conduct election campaigns. Yet for all that he was at daggers drawn with Mr. Modi, Mr. Kumar, unlike Naveen Patnaik in Orissa, has always stopped short of breaking off with the BJP. The explanation for this lies in the fact that the BJP and the JD(U) are structurally inter-dependent in Bihar, with the former thought to contribute upper caste votes to the latter’s core constituency of OBCs and most backwards. Electorally, the BJP has been a strong performer in the State, making it difficult for the JD(U) to find a ready replacement. But clearly, the moment of reckoning has arrived with Mr. Modi making no secret of his larger national ambitions. Any further ambivalence on Mr. Kumar’s part would have surely emboldened the BJP into assuming that he was ready to bark but not bite. Perhaps the Bihar Chief Minister has learnt a thing or two from Mr. Patnaik, who broke with the BJP over the Kandhamal violence. He did this knowing fully well that the rupture could benefit the Congress, which held the largest share of votes in Orissa. But Mr. Patnaik deduced, and rightly too, that going for broke can fetch blockbuster dividends, provided the decision is seen to be arising from conviction. That’s why Mr. Kumar seems to have decided it pays to stand up and be counted.
Keywords: Nitish Kumar, NDA prime ministerial row, Narendra Modi, Modi government, Narendra Modi supporters
Leaders like Nitish Kumar, Narendra Modi have showed their capacity. Nitish's contribution in transforming poverty stricken state Bihar and taking it into the right path of development can not be forgotten. And Modi also showed his strength in Gujarat.. But in the same way show-off of their developmental politics has also reached its peak.. Its very sad to see that todays politics has become power centric rather instead of value based... But one thing, it doesnt matter whether Bihari rules or Gujarati rules or even if Tamilian rules, but what matters for us is indians rule this nation...!!!
The real development test for Shri Nitish Kumar is halting migration
of landless workers of his State to other States. Although he may not
accept it, economists know that in the past Bihar has actually
transferred the burden of the poor to other States. Let us not forget
that the State of Bihar has for many years been led by politicians who
were leaders no doubt but with only limited vision. Not one chief
minister really tried to implement land reforms sincerely. Land
reforms have brought in positive changes in West Bengal. In Bihar too,
land reforms have the potential to change the lives of poor tenants
and landless farm workers (and change the economy of Bihar) in a
dramatic fashion.
If Shri Nitish Kumar is making demand for a 'special' status for
Bihar, the Central government should not overlook history and concede
his demand. In fact, special assistance can be tied with commitment
for implementation of land reforms.
Somebody found great solace writing this.More of a personal diatribe than an edit.
(1) In case Shri Nitish Kumar breaks his alliance with NDA, and forms
a new one, how would new alliance as thought of by Shri Nitish Kumar
be like? It is not going to be an easy alliance. We know that just
Shri Nitish Kumar, Shri Biju Patnaik and Ms Mamata Banerjee, two
possible allies of Shri Nitish Kumar, are ambitious politicians, with
strong views and a huge mass base.(2) As regards Shri Narendra Modi’s
growth model, Shri Nitish Kumar’s criticism is valid. Gujarat is known
for people with entrepreneurial skills and business acumen and hence
Gujarat has made progress under Mr. Modi. For economically backward
States we need a different model of development as Gujarat model may
not be suitable for these States. (3) There are so many urgent and
pressing economic problems; rising current account deficit, and
inflation which affect aam adami, are two of them. Shri Nitish Kumar
and his new alliance partners must get ready to ably handle these
issues to stake a claim in the Centre.
it will be very interesting to know how a natural alliance with BJP will support much criticized(by JDU) congress.In politics anything can happen but its not "anything" for a much seasoned politician like Nitish Kumar.Clearly in the upcoming election he might loss some major pie as perceived if he continues to hold this stance.
No doubt that Nitish Kumar has taken a strong initiation but alas! Modi
is at the horizon.
This whole melodrama is simply politics , as Bihar's chief minister can not support Modi
openly as it endangers their Minority especially Muslim vote bank for approaching election
and evidently a folk created to showcase his apt position via special status demand for Bihar
so allies perhaps would not consider him as easy bargain and would pave the road to New
Delhi with heavy cabinet portfolio if nda wins.
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