Bihar Chief Minister and leader of Janata Dal (United) Nitish Kumar was being considered as one of the strong candidates to lead the united Third Front. Rejection of all possibilities of JDU joining RJD-Congress coalition, at the hands of the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, seems to have settled the dust over his future alliance prospects. Now speculations are on the rise that the incumbent Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has agreed to install a rotational CM in his home state. The rotational CM is likely to be from the BJP and would be announced in the coming days. JDU’s position in the state is already controversial as it had formed coalition governments with both RJD-Congress and is currently in power with the help of BJP. Nitish Kumar agreeing to leave the CM chair for a coalition member is big news as it means that he is ready to solidify his position with BJP and prove that he is not going anywhere in the coming future. This could prove to be an important twist in the plans of the opposition, shattering all hopes of a grand, secular coalition for them in Bihar.
Some section of media reporting that Nitish agrees for Rotational Chief Minister in Bihar…so soon there may be BJP chief minister…..I dont think Nitish will agree on this unless some hidden majboori there
— Narendra Nath Mishra (@iamnarendranath) July 7, 2018
Nitish Kumar and JDU are the ones who are most likely to benefit from solidifying their position with Bharatiya Janata Party and NDA. Apart from getting desired number of seats in the Bihar assembly elections, Nitish Kumar could also be eyeing a ministerial portfolio prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Nitish Kumar is fast approaching the last leg of his career and a Member of Parliament seat while he passes over the CM seat to the next generation of leaders from the JDU would be a perfect transition. JDU’s image in the state and at national level too would receive a major boost if he decides to continue with the BJP and offers the CM seat to its coalition member. He has often been criticized for being power hungry and of changing parties just to hold on to the CM chair.
It will be a win-win situation for the BJP as well in Bihar as it will give them an opportunity to lead and introduce some changes in the state. BJP is strong in the state but it has till date always remained in the role of a supporter and a stint at the CM seat will help them to implement party’s vision in the state. BJP has never broken away from a coalition with the JDU, it was always the other way around in the state.
BJP would benefit immensely and so would Nitish and JDU, BJP could also fulfil the long-standing demands of the state leaders to further solidify the coalition stance in the days to come. A rotational CM would also ensure the public that there are not going to be further splits between the BJP and JDU post elections. Smooth functioning of the government is the main objective irrespective of who, among the coalition partners, runs it. This message needs to be sent by JDU and Nitish Kumar as soon as he can to the people of Bihar.