Nitish; never frontal!
New Delhi: a giant of a politician? No! an acclaimed administrator? Yes! Nevertheless the fact remains Nitish Kumar comes from a ‘sidey’ state like Bihar despite the urgent developmental sounds made by its government and its bureaucracy.
Recently, Nitish made it clear rather volubly that Narendra Modi is not acceptable as the NDA prime ministerial candidate. Just yesterday he remained mum over the question of Sushma Swaraj’s candidacy proposed by Bal Thakerey. Any candidate proposed by Bal Thakerey would be well-advised to go home and forget about grand ambitions for a number of months till the public forgets and forgives. Even Sushil Modi, the other Modi acquiring a national stature recently scratched his unshaven face and wondered aloud to the press that Nitish is a fit candidate for prime-ministership, as if he was in the midst of a BJP brain-storming session!
Now according to the latest reports, Janata Dal (United), which runs a coalition with BJP in Bihar, has decided to contest assembly elections in Gujarat on its own. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose antipathy to Modi is well known, will also campaign for the JD-U candidates in Gujarat, where elections are due this year end.
Giving indications of the party’s plans, JD-U President Sharad Yadav told reporters, “the BJP is the larger party in the NDA. We will go for alliance with the BJP wherever it wants us, but barring in Gujarat.” He was replying to a question whether the JD-U contesting elections separately in a State ruled by the BJP will give the impression of a rift in the NDA.
Both party chief Sharad Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will campaign in Gujarat, aggravating further the strains between Kumar and Modi that have come to the fore on more than one occasion.
As for the Bihari voter, she/he will be in two minds – a Bihari PM is a good enough idea to celebrate. Good for the country of course! But what about Bihar then, he may wonder and the worry lines on his forehead will begin to multiply.
In brief, in his PM-ship ambitions, Nitish faces both – applause for taking Bihar to Delhi, and accusations of betrayal of Bihar.
Tough life, Nitish Ji!