Nitish Kumar is no more indispensable for Narendra Modi and his BJP. This clear and loud message was conveyed by none else but Nitish himself who on return today to Patna after swearing in of the Modi government jibed; “There was no need for JD(U) joining his government as the BJP had an overwhelming majority”.
He also made it clear that he would not accept any offer from Modi for his MPs joining his government. This testimonial dig reflected the nature of the hurt Modi and his Chanakya have inflicted on him. But an insight into the past events made it abundantly clear that this was to happen anyway.
Nitish feels cheated was also evident from his retort; “Votes in Bihar were not polled in the name of any personality and no one should have any confusion that the victory which was registered by NDA in Bihar was actually the victory of the people of Bihar. If somebody is trying to project this victory as his personal achievement then he is certainly under an illusion.”
After the Lok Sabha results were announced on May 23 and JD(U) won 16 seats an impression had gathered in the JD(U) leadership that they would be offered not less than three ministerial berths. On the D-day, Narendra Modi offered a single cabinet spot for his party. No doubt it came like an electric shock to him. Nitish who is seen as the most shrewd politician had not imagined even in his dreams that he would be betrayed by Amit Shah.
In fact, Amit during his discussion with Nitish on representation in the Modi government had made it clear that one ministerial berth would be given to each ally. But Amit had given the impression that they would try to honour his desire. Nevertheless, Nitish had told Amit Shah that the BJP’s offer was unacceptable to his party and that allies should be given “proportional representation”, not “symbolic representation”.
Nitish Kumar emphasised, “We told the BJP if they really wanted to give only symbolic representation, then there was no need for it. A real share in the government should be proportional representation. We formed an alliance for the sake of Bihar. We have no wish for symbolic shares”. However, instead of straining his relations at this stage, Nitish played safe for the time being with the assertion, “We are with you anyway”.
Through this, the BJP infact wanted to send the message that in the 2020 Bihar assembly election Nitish would not be the public face of the party and the bBJP would go to the polls on its own.
Angry at Amit Shah’s move, Nitish refused to accept any such offer even in future. The primary task before Nitish is to maintain his public posture and image. The fact of the matter is like the mahagathbandhan partners, Nitish too is scared of the BJP gain. With BJP gaining immense strength, Nitish has further become cautious of their approach and moves.
When the elections were announced, the political condition and situation was not at all congenial for the BJP. Even the saffron party could not comprehend that it would bag such a massive number of seats. Had they known of the impending scenario, they must have given 17 seats on the platter to contest. With 16 members, Nitish can create problems for Modi.
BJP, which untill recently, has been playing backward caste card, has made a strategic change in its policy. It has mainly depended on the forward castes and even has inducted five upper caste members in the cabinet. This is also a warning to Nitish. The B JP in order to grab the 15 per cent upper caste support base of Congress and emerge as the major political outfit in the state, would mainly depend on the upper castes.
This has even endangered the position of leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi, the backward face amongst the top state leaders. If the murmurings and rumours are to be believed that the party is also contemplating to bring in an upper caste leader as the state president in place of Nityanand Rai, a bhumihar, who has been inducted in the government.
The BJP has been focusing on emerging as the sole nationalist party. It wants to win over the upper caste from Congress and other parties. It is interesting to watch that this time has inducted upper caste members in the cabinet. The message is obvious. The leadership nurses the feeling that there is no need for appeasing Muslims and the other backward castes.
The worst victim of this strategy of the party would be the deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, a backward caste leader. In fact, for some time, the state BJP has been witness to rumblings inside on the issue of status of the upper castes in the party. Some time back some upper caste leaders had resorted to hunger strike and had also sent a delegation to Delhi to apprise the leaders of the ground situation prevailing in the party.
It was alleged that some backward leaders, for their own interest, were pushing the party to the backward trap. It was pointed out that the BJP, if at all has to survive in Bihar, must reactivate its upper caste support base. The backward caste would not prefer to desert the RJD and others.
Realising this trend and mood of the people, Nitish too has been working on this line. His emphasis to induct Rajiv Ranjan a minister is motivated by this political line. True enough, that BJP does not intend to fall in this trap set by Nitish.
The writer is a freelance journalist. Views are personal.