Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar turned 75 on Monday. He’s understandably growing old, as the character does with everybody, however he stays in command within the state, and politically indispensable too.
Nitish’s age, son’s entry develop into speaking factors in Bihar politics
However for the primary time, the Opposition is making his age and well being a political subject with direct and relentless assaults on him. But, past rhetoric, there’s a technique in it — everybody is aware of the value of Nitish Kumar to tilt the stability and the impression of his absence.
Regardless of his flip-flop within the final seven years from the Grand Alliance (GA) to the Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA), Kumar has remained pivotal to the Bihar politics and has been capable of play his playing cards deftly to be at all times one up.
JD-U leaders say there may be much more left in Nitish Kumar, and so does the BJP, however the best way there was a concerted transfer to provoke his non-political son Nishant Kumar, 49, into politics and get ready to take over the reins of the social gathering factors to a line of pondering within the social gathering “to see their future beyond Nitish”.
For the BJP, Bihar has remained the Achilles’ heel, as regardless of being a part of the federal government largely since 2005, it has not been capable of win in Bihar by itself to kind the federal government, and was stumped on the peak of Narendra Modi’s reputation in 2015 and its technique did not resurrect its fortune in 2020.
It has causes to take measured steps as a result of newer expertise. The Lok Sabha election ends in Bihar final 12 months once more underlined the significance of Nitish Kumar within the state’s predominantly triangular politics and underlined his uncanny knack of bouncing again simply when individuals begin writing him off.
Whether or not Nishant will be part of mainstream politics or not and when is for him and Nitish Kumar to resolve, however the sudden push for Nishant from the JD-U in addition to the Opposition is doing extra hurt than good within the run as much as election to Nitish Kumar, who will not be at his finest however nonetheless stays as essential to Bihar politics as ever.
The Opposition RJD has, nevertheless, began taking part in it as much as fan insecurity, with chief of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav describing Nishant as his brother, whereas Jan Suraj Social gathering founder Prashant Kishor has been immediately attacking Nitish over the latter’s well being.
“Nishant should do it fast, else JD-U will be lost. He is my brother and I will like him to join politics fast. Otherwise BJP will devour JD-U. In fact, some people in the BJP and the JD-U are trying to prevent his entry,” he mentioned, however added that JD-U is a celebration shaped by late Sharad Yadav in an obvious bid to minimize Nitish’s contribution.
Congress has additionally began supporting Nishant Idea. “Nishant’s entry is important for the survival of the JD-U,” mentioned Congress spokesman Rajesh Rathor.
Political analysts say that Tejashwi might have a cause for backing Nishant, as it could convey curtains on the talk on ‘dynastic politics’ in opposition to which Nitish Kumar at all times remained so vocal about and Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally focused it with in each election rally.
Kishor has been sharper in his assault on Nitish, as he has been declaring that the “Bihar CM is no more fit to hold the important chair, as he is physically tired and mentally retired”.
“I appeal to the people not to let anyone from the JD-U win, as he has been reduced to a mere mask of the BJP now. He just wants to be the CM – be it with the lantern (RJD) or the lotus (BJP) – and that should not happen now,” he advised media individuals whereas asserting his social gathering’s mega rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on April 11.
There has additionally been rising assist for Nishant even from throughout the NDA, with the Lok Janshakti Social gathering (Ramvilas) chief and union minister Chirag Paswan and HAM -S chief and union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi additionally welcoming the transfer.
Nishant, on his half, has been restrained at this stage about himself, although for the primary time he’s popping out to talk to media and search assist for his father for all the nice work for an additional time period as CM.
Former professor and dean, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Pushpendra mentioned that there was a lurking concern and uncertainty not simply within the JD-U, but additionally within the Opposition of state politics “ beyond Notish Kumar”, because the Bihar CM has had an uncanny knack of taking part in the balancing recreation with out having overwhelming vote financial institution.
“JD-U is understandably aware of the reality that minus Nitish it would be difficult. There are three types of leadership, as Max Weber put it. One of them is charismatic, which the likes of Nitish, Lalu Prasad, Jayalalitha, Mamta Bannerjee provided, but the problem with such leadership is that it has no second in line. All regional parties grapple with it,” he added.
Pushpendra mentioned that the largest concern with such events is the massive hole between the charismatic chief and the potential second, third or fourth in line. “The leader dominates as long as he is in command and and after him there are too many claimants to trigger inner fight or dissent. One way of stemming it is to bring in a family member, which symbolically becomes the uniting force,” he added.
He mentioned that the Opposition getting euphoric about Nishant was additionally as a result of concern of uncertainty, because it was conscious of the Nitish Kumar contribution in protecting Bihar largely untouched by the BJP wave regardless of forming the federal government with it. “Once Nitish is not there, it would be difficult for the RJD also in direct fight with the BJP,” he added.