Politicians have a strong lust for power. To gain or maintain power they can stoop to any level. They can compromise with their principles, ideology and their long term ‘allies’. They can even stitch alliances with their arch-nemesis. That is why, it is said that Politics is a strange arena, where yesteryears enemies can be today’s friend and vice-versa. This ugly facet of politics and sheer level of opportunism is out and open in Bihar. However, the larger message from the current political developments in Bihar is BJP’s lack of aggressive intent and leadership vacuum in the state.
Sudden Meeting with the Governor
As per media reports, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation to Governor Phagu Chauhan. This sudden development is the culmination of the brewing spat between the parties of the ruling alliance, JD(U) and BJP. Previous to this CM Nitish Kumar snapped ties with its ‘friendly-foe’ BJP. The principal opposition party, RJD, which is also the single largest party in the state, may form an alliance with JD(U) to form the next government in the state.
These developments were always on the card. The Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is infamous for betrayal and taking U-turns. In Fact, he has even earned the moniker “Palturam” because of his frequent u-turns. In 2013, he had betrayed the long term ally BJP to form the Mahagathbandhan government with its fiercest rival RJD. Then in 2017, it broke the alliance with RJD to form a government with BJP.
Also Read: It’s official, Nitish Kumar is the leader of Jungle Raj 2.0 in Bihar
So, a betrayal from JD(U) was an inevitable thing for the BJP. However, by stitching an alliance with RJD, Nitish Kumar has made a fool out of the Bihar BJP. His move has clearly highlighted several shortcomings of the BJP unit in Bihar.
BJP the ultimate loser?
The alliance between RJD and JD(U) may be a bad thing for the people of Bihar but it will surely prove to be a shot in the arm for both these parties. This leaves the BJP as the biggest loser from this outcome. So, this development has posed several questions before the saffron party. First, why did it make a stupidest blunder to believe that Nitish Kumar won’t betray them again? It should have kept some checks and balances to avert the repetition of such a betrayal.
Power was always the ulterior motive of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar. JD(U) never had any ideological coherence with the BJP. So the second question arises: why didn’t it go aggressively in the state assembly election. The environment was ripe for it to expand quickly in the state, yet it adopted a sluggish and lethargic policy and went with a CM who was proving to be a liability in the election.
Also Read: Jarring signs from Bihar MLC elections; people love the BJP but loath Nitish Kumar
Third: what was the compulsion for BJP to make Nitish Kumar as the CM? It was a foolish move to make Nitish Kumar, the leader of a third largest party the CM of the state. JD(U) had performed miserably in the state and ended at third spot behind RJD and BJP. The BJP should have pressed harder and gotten some assurances for their magnanimous gesture.
Also Read: Bihar bypoll results have a hidden message for BJP
Fourth, the biggest hurdle for the party in the state is the lack of aggressive, far-sighted and mass leaders in the state. It has failed miserably in developing state leadership. At once, Sushil Kumar Modi was the tallest leader for the party in the state who was claimed to be a pro-Nitish leader thanks to their long term friendship. So, if it fails to find some leaders like Yogi or Himanta in Bihar, it will keep suffering betrayals and humiliation at the hands of opportunistic parties like JD(U).
Only possible solution: Change the dynamics in the state
Bihar has been a tri-party dominated state for several decades. All the three parties more or less have always kept their core voter intact. So, it is an open secret that an alliance between any two parties from the three is a winning combination. However, the state has been wrecked courtesy to the two caste driven parties RJD and JD(U).
The memories of Jungle Raj are still afresh in the minds of the people. This had inclined people of the state to pin their hopes on the saffron party, BJP. However, it has failed miserably in delivering on these hopes.
So, the best solution to take Bihar out of Nitish-Lalu Raj is to change the dynamic in the state. If the RJD and JD(U) hold on to their caste, religion based vote bank, their alliance will be invincible. For this BJP has to start aggressive campaigns to find leaders from the respective communities like it has launched in tribal regions in Jharkhand. Other than that, it has to hand over the responsibility to some responsible leader who takes the ruling alliance head on like Devendra Fadnavis dismantled the Maha Vikas Aghadi. It is time for them to repeat the same 50% plus vote share strategy that it adopted in UP to tackle the SP-BSP alliance.
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