Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar has come out with a statement quashing all rumours of rift between his party Janata Dal United and Bharatiya Janata Party. The reports of differences between JD(U) and BJP had been making the rounds for quite a while now. Nitish Kumar’s statement is sure to silence all the Congress and RJD leaders who were celebrating a possible rift between the two allies. Nitish Kumar addressed a press conference on the sidelines of his Lok Samwaad programme, when questioned about seat sharing in the future, Nitish said, “No talks on seats and related issues have been held yet. When elections will be round the corner there will be talks on seat sharing.” This is the first direct statement by Nitish Kumar regarding the seat sharing and differences in BJP led National Democratic Alliance. His statement will put to an end the speculations done by various leaders from inside JD(U)as well who had been raising unnecessary queries. This statement will also be taken as an example by the other parties of the NDA where elections are going to be held.
Nitish Kumar blamed all the gossips and fake news which were being circulated on social media on the opposition parties such as Congress and RJD. “We are working here jointly and running the government. There is absolutely no problem anybody can see. Some people are in habit of making statements (for their publicity) regularly,” the CM clarified. Nitish Kumar’s statement shows that he has now fully accepted NDA as his final destination. He also took a dig at one of his party’s spokespersons for making a statement which conveyed the message that majority seats would be allotted to the JD(U) in the upcoming elections. Statements like, “Kumar is the tallest leader and the BJP, LJP and RLSP will have to approach the LS polls under his leadership”, were made by Pavan Verma, a senior JD(U) leader earlier. Ajay Alok another JD(U) leader had made a statement saying, “There is no confusion in JD(U) regarding seat sharing. We used to contest on 25 seats & BJP on 15 seats. Now more allies have joined us so all top leaders will decide about the seat sharing. Nitish Kumar is the face of NDA alliance in Bihar.”
Statements like these had emboldened Congress and RJD leaders who had further raised rumours concerning probable breaks in NDA. Nitish Kumar is a clever politician and a good strategist. He knows that he has already used every lifeline possible in the past, he simply cannot go back to the RJD-Congress camp anymore. Moreover he knows that if he decides to fight the elections alone, a three cornered fight will take place in Bihar, with RJD-Congress combine and JD(U) and BJP fighting the elections. The benefit of such a situation will invariably go to the BJP in 2019 like it did in 2014. Nitish Kumar is too wise to let this happen. Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha too has reconfirmed his decision to stay with NDA in the upcoming elections. With JD(U) and RLSP looking to back BJP in 2019, there will be worries for the Congress-RJD alliance. Nitish Kumar’s statements have killed two birds with one stone, given a boost to the morales of NDA and a jolt to the hopes of Congress in the upcoming elections.