JD (U) is in no position to claim to be the senior NDA partner in Bihar.

The Janta Dal (U) seems to be negotiating hard and negotiating for survival vis-à-vis BJP. Knowing that it has nowhere to go now, it has boldly proclaimed that Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar. JDU National Secretary and spokesperson, KC Tyagi , after core committee meeting at the residence of Nitish Kumar in Patna on Sunday, declared that, “Nitish Kumar will be the face of the NDA in Bihar for the Lok Sabha elections.” The meeting was attended by KC Tyagi, Pavan Varma, poll strategist Prashant Kishore and few other senior state leaders. Pavan Varma told reporters, “Nitish Kumar is the face of the NDA in Bihar that is why he is the chief minister.  JDU is the largest constituent of the coalition.” JDU has also reminded the BJP of the 25-15 ratio both parties have used for the Lok Sabha elections in the past.

In 2014 Lok Sabha elections when the BJP went without the JDU, it won 22 seats. Its allies won 9 more seats, taking NDA’s tally to 31. On what basis does the JDU still think that the BJP will be agreeing to the 25-15 ratio? Moreover, the BJP has the largest vote share in Bihar.  In 2014, JDU secured only 2 seats with a vote share of just 15.8 %, a fall of 8.24 % from the previous elections. Its vote share also declined by 5.81% in 2015 Bihar assembly elections. Vote share of JDU was 16.8% and they had won 71 seats because they were in alliance with RJD. On the other hand, BJP’s vote share rose up by 7.94% with a total vote share of 24.4%. Does the JDU really think that things will remain the same as before at the Lok Sabha level?

Pavan Varma, who attended the meeting, said, “Kumar is the tallest leader and the BJP, LJP and RLSP will have to approach the LS polls under his leadership.” If JDU believes this then the it is living in a fool’s paradise. Having dumped BJP, gone to Lalu Yadav and the Congress, and returned to the BJP, they have exhausted every lifeline possible. They have no option but to remain with the BJP on BJP’s terms. Otherwise, if they go it alone, the BJP will sweep the state in a three-cornered fight, just like it did in 2014. JDU should get back to reality as soon as possible. Things are not the same as 2009, things have changed at a rapid pace, and it’s 2019, not 2009.

The Shiv Sena tried to push Uddhav Thackeray as the face of the NDA in Maharashtra with the campaign slogan ‘Utha Maharashtra’ (Wake up, Maharashtra). The outcome was not what Uddhav had expected.  They went their separate ways, Devendra Fadnavis came into the picture, and the rest is history. Modi-Shah duo’s aggressive politics first reduced him to play second fiddle in the alliance, and now Fadnavis’ political acumen is pushing him to oblivion. Even NCP has refused to form an alliance with the Shiv Sena. 

Does Nitish want to become another Uddhav? The choice is his.