The BJP is watching the developments in Bihar and its now fractious ''Maha Gatbandhan'' (Grand Alliance) government of the Janata Dal (U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, with great interest. Sources in the party admitted that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had, with his latest statements, “opened a window for an exit” from the alliance.
A senior BJP office-bearer from the State, on condition of anonymity, told The Hindu that Mr. Kumar’s latest statements show that not only is he “uncomfortable with the Congress even more than the RJD” but that “he is riding on two boats.”
“For the BJP, why shouldn’t we want to enter into an alliance that will bring Bihar back to us, but it has to be with the understanding that not only is Prime Minister Narendra Modi the undisputed leader of the NDA, but will be for 2019. Jo roti daal sab ko parosi jaa rahi hai, aap bhi wahi khayenge (whatever is being served to others will be served to you),” explained the leader rather evocatively.
Echoes earlier break
“Nitish Kumar is behaving the same way he behaved when he was breaking his alliance with us, in 2013. He is snubbing the Congress, the RJD, not going for joint meetings, and voting for the NDA candidate. These are all signs that he is calculating an exit, but we feel it will take some more time,” he added.
The BJP is expecting support from Mr. Kumar in the coming vice presidential poll too — a move they say will have more repercussions for the ''Maha Gatbandhan''.
At a morning ''Jan Samvad'' programme in Patna, Mr. Kumar had castigated the Congress and other Opposition parties for “reactive politics” and for not drawing up a social and political agenda to take to the people.
He is said to have been upset with the Congress for projecting that party leader Meira Kumar as its presidential candidate when he would have preferred a non-Congress person like Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
Mr. Kumar is also said to be upset with leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad’s for his criticism after he (Mr. Kumar) announced support for NDA’s presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, breaking ranks with other Opposition parties.
“We anticipate that the trigger could be charges of graft being framed against members of Lalu Prasad’s [RJD chief] family. Whatever it is, it is a while away, according to us,” said the BJP office-bearer.
