Five lotus moves of Nitish Kumar
NEW DELHI: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar triggered speculation after he added colour to a lotus drawn by an artist today during the 23rd Patna Book Fair. The move was seen as an indicator of the CM's love for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose election symbol is lotus, even though his party, Janata Dal (United), broke alliance with the BJP many years ago.
Nitish Kumar has recently given ample signs of warming to the former ally of his party which rules Bihar in alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal where BJP is in opposition.
Below are the five big indicators from Nitish Kumar in the recent past that he is no more hostile to the BJP:
1. Praise of the surgical strike
After the Indian Army's surgical strike on terror launch pads across the LoC in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in September last year, the Opposition parties raised several questions, even questioning the nature of the strike. But Nitish Kumar openly praised the BJP-led NDA government for the game-changing move.
2. Support to demonetisation
Nitish Kumar openly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock move to demonetise high-denomination currency notes in November. Nitish said he had taken a principled stand on it and would support every move against corruption.
3. The Prakash Parv bonhomie
At the Prakash Parv in Patna, marking the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, PM Modi and Nitish Kumar appeared together on stage and showed unusual bonhomie. They even praised each other—PM Modi praised Nitish Kumar for liquor ban and Nitish Kumar praised him for demonetisation.
4. The Dahi-Chura politics
In an unexpected move, Nitish Kumar's party JDU sent invitation to the Opposition BJP for joining a special feast of 'Dahi-Chura' on January 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. It was for the first time since the alliance between the two parties broke up in June 2013 that JD(U) sent an invitation to BJP seniors for the Dahi-Chura feast which is organised every year by the JD(U).
5. Staying away from UP elections
Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) decided not to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Nitish Kumar himself said he would stay away from campaigning in UP. Though the decision was projected as a move to not to divide 'secular' votes, it was apparent that it would only benefit the BJP which is counting on the OBC votes in the state. Nitish could have swayed these voters away from the BJP.
Nitish Kumar has recently given ample signs of warming to the former ally of his party which rules Bihar in alliance with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal where BJP is in opposition.
Below are the five big indicators from Nitish Kumar in the recent past that he is no more hostile to the BJP:
1. Praise of the surgical strike
After the Indian Army's surgical strike on terror launch pads across the LoC in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in September last year, the Opposition parties raised several questions, even questioning the nature of the strike. But Nitish Kumar openly praised the BJP-led NDA government for the game-changing move.
2. Support to demonetisation
Nitish Kumar openly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock move to demonetise high-denomination currency notes in November. Nitish said he had taken a principled stand on it and would support every move against corruption.
3. The Prakash Parv bonhomie
At the Prakash Parv in Patna, marking the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, PM Modi and Nitish Kumar appeared together on stage and showed unusual bonhomie. They even praised each other—PM Modi praised Nitish Kumar for liquor ban and Nitish Kumar praised him for demonetisation.
4. The Dahi-Chura politics
In an unexpected move, Nitish Kumar's party JDU sent invitation to the Opposition BJP for joining a special feast of 'Dahi-Chura' on January 15 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. It was for the first time since the alliance between the two parties broke up in June 2013 that JD(U) sent an invitation to BJP seniors for the Dahi-Chura feast which is organised every year by the JD(U).
5. Staying away from UP elections
Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) decided not to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Nitish Kumar himself said he would stay away from campaigning in UP. Though the decision was projected as a move to not to divide 'secular' votes, it was apparent that it would only benefit the BJP which is counting on the OBC votes in the state. Nitish could have swayed these voters away from the BJP.
