What lies behind Nitish Kumar’s flip-flops?

He may be eyeing the Prime Minister’s job

PATNA , BIHAR, 03/07/2017: The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar talking to media persons after Lok Samvad programme, in Patna on July 03, 2017. Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

As the CBI conducted a raid at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s 10, Circular Road, an official residence of former chief minister and his wife Rabri Devi, over corruption charges early on Friday morning, CM Nitish Kumar was taking a break in the hillocks of Rajgir, some 100 km from Patna.

Mr. Kumar had left Patna abruptly on Thursday. This point sparked much speculation in political circles when the CBI reached Mr. Prasad’s place.

Now what will be Mr. Kumar’s next step: will he prefer to carry on the alliance with the RJD to save his government until 2020? Or, would he snap ties mid-way with the ‘tainted’ ally to bolster his image for a possible Prime Ministerial bid in 2019? Only, time will tell.

Mr. Kumar’s recent flip-flops have surprised many. At one time he extends his support to the Congress party in the name of Opposition unity, the next moment he backs the BJP-led NDA government’s policies, plans and presidential pick and says he cannot be a pichhalagu (camp follower).

Blowing hot and cold

One day he is seen to be cold to his ruling alliance partner while, soon after, he declares that the alliance is united.

He often says he is not in the race for the Prime Minister’s post in 2019 but, a year back he had said, “if a person is destined to become Prime Minister, he would become the PM one day.”

 

Unlike his alliance partners, he commands not more than 4% of his caste vote bank in Bihar but in the last 2015 Assembly election his JD(U) got 16.8% vote share with 71 seats out of a total of 243. His party came second in seat numbers after RJD (80) but, he became the chief minister for the third time. He has allied with almost all mainstream political parties taking their inside or outside support just to remain in power.

Aiming high

But, why has he been blowing hot and cold with both his ruling alliance partners: RJD and Congress? Why does he take a step towards BJP one moment and take two steps back the next? Is he trying to keep everyone in the loop while exploring possibilities for that “something big” in 2019? Many believe, yes.