In what suggests that the BJP-JD (U) alliance in the state of Bihar is on the right track, PM Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar shared a stage at an election rally for the first time since May 2009. It also turned out to be the first joint NDA rally in the politically crucial state since November 2005. During the rally, both the leaders heaped praise on each other. CM Nitish Kumar lauded PM Modi for giving a free hand to the security forces and also thanked the IAF for “commendable” action against the Pakistani terror outfits. He also said, “I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for forcing Pakistan to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman with a short span.”
During his speech, PM Modi launched a stinging attack at the opposition and once again referred to the grand coalition as Mahamilavat. He said, “If the Mahamilavat government would have been there, then there wouldn’t have been any decisions or development because they have a habit of developing themselves.” The Prime Minister also spelled out the vision of the NDA for the development of Bihar. He said that the transformation of Bihar is the vision of NDA. He went on to add that the NDA seeks to eliminate illiteracy in Bihar and guarantee healthcare and education schemes for all. He also spoke about how the JD (U) and the BJP have jointly ensured that farmers in the state of Bihar do not suffer because of poverty.
The JD (U) and the BJP are working in total cohesion with each other and as such there are no visible tensions between the two parties. It is clear that the coalition is all set to launch a stinging attack on the opposition and there are no points of conflict between the two parties which could be potentially exploited by the opposition.
Last year, certain news reports had speculated that all was not well in the BJP-JD (U) coalition in the state of Bihar. It had been reported in the month of June 2018 that the JD (U) was set to launch a movement against the BJP government in Jharkhand from June 25 last year. It had also been reported that the Congress stated that all was not well in the BJP-JD (U) alliance. However, it seems that such reports did not have much substance to them. The way PM Modi and CM Nitish have shared the stage and heaped praise on each other makes it clear that there is no issue with the BJP-JD (U) alliance in the state of Bihar.
