The Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal (United) is worried that the delay in the floor test in the Bihar Assembly might give its opponents – the rump led by incumbent Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and the BJP that is waiting in the wings – the time to poach on its support base of 128 MLAs, creating a situation in which President’s Rule could be imposed.
Nitish sees a game planFor, if that happens, it would deprive Nitish Kumar, who was elected JD(U) Legislature Party leader last Saturday, the opportunity to consolidate his position and that of his party, while creating the space for a sustainable merger with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal ahead of Assembly elections slated for later this year. Indeed Mr. Kumar has alleged that there was “a game plan to impose President’s Rule in the State.”
Set for floor testAs both camps gear up for the floor test ordered on February 20 by Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi, the latter expressed his sense of hurt at the JD(U) leadership’s frontal attack on him, accusing him of working to a script written in Delhi. “I cannot just remove Manjhi,” he said on Friday, “I have to follow a proper systematic procedure.”
Mr. Kumar, on his part, also softened his stance on the Governor, telling a TV channel, “I’m not making allegations against the Governor. I respect the office of the Governor. But he didn’t need to say all that he did.”
Meanwhile, even as the Sharad Yadav-led JD(U) cracked the whip on the few MLAs still backing a defiant Mr. Manjhi, the latter, asked about his chances in the upcoming floor test, said, “I will enter the ring as a ‘pahalwan’ [wrestler] without bothering how strong my opponent is… I’ll make an emotional speech that I stand for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden... If you agree with me, come along. If I do not get adequate response, I’ll quit the CM post.”
BJP for fresh pollsThe BJP, that has 87 MLAs in the State, has distanced itself from the JD(U) crisis, especially after the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. But its leader in the State, Sushil Modi, has been publicly saying from the very start that the best course of action is to call for fresh elections.
The BJP has its eyes set on Bihar for sometime, especially after it swept the State with its allies in the general elections earlier this year. A spell of President’s Rule in the State ahead of elections would help it, far preferable to it than a Nitish Kumar consolidating his position as Chief Minister.
Caste cardBihar has been in political turmoil for the last few weeks with Mr. Kumar and his one-time protégé, Mr. Manjhi involved in a power struggle. Initially, the JD(U) leadership had gone slow as Mr. Manjhi has been playing the mahadalit card: JD(U) sources say that it was Mr. Kumar as Chief Minister who had created the category of mahadalits – the poorest amongst the Dalits – and given them special benefits. If Mr. Manjhi now walks out and joins the BJP, that section could switch its allegiance, fears the party.
