New Delhi: Nitish Kumar’s political profession really started with an ultimatum. In 1985, when he was contesting his third election after dropping the earlier two elections, he addressed a big public assembly in Harnaut. There he declared, “That is the final time I’ll ask you to vote for me. For those who do not elect me now, I will by no means run once more.”
Nitish later recalled that the gang had gone silent and he seen tears within the eyes of these seated in entrance of him. “It struck a chord with their feelings,” Nitish Kumar’s pal Arun Sinha writes in his e-book. The Battle of Bihar: Nitish Kumar and the Theater of Energy.
Nitish even advised his spouse Manju, “Please let me attempt only one extra time. If I fail, I’ll retire from politics.”
However he didn’t fail. Since his 1985 victory, he has by no means seemed again.
He additionally realized the artwork of sustaining his social standing, profitable election after election whereas switching alliances as wanted, ultimately overtaking even the once-seemingly invincible Lalu Prasad Yadav to turn out to be the dominant determine in Bihar politics.
Nitish, who served as chief minister for 15 uninterrupted years, confronted two main challenges in 2020. These embody the human and administrative disaster attributable to the coronavirus, and a political problem from coalition accomplice the BJP, which has used LJP chief Chirag Paswan to undermine Nitish’s political capital.
Nitish as soon as once more appealed on to voters that 2020 could be his final election. Individuals trusted him once more. Nevertheless, this time, the JD(U) was lowered to 43 seats. Nonetheless, maybe recognizing Nitish’s significance to the alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Celebration accepted him as Prime Minister.
BJP’s 2025 Technique
Within the run-up to the 2025 meeting elections, the BJP initially selected to not marketing campaign collectively with Nitish to keep away from antagonizing occasion leaders who needed him to turn out to be the BJP chief minister. However after the primary part, the Bharatiya Janata Celebration realized their mistake. There was no anti-incumbency motion in opposition to Nitish. Certainly, EBC voters and girls are sympathetic to him and see him as a dependable, albeit ageing, chief.
Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Celebration, from Amit Shah to Samrat Chaudhary, have publicly reiterated that there isn’t a emptiness for the chief minister’s publish in Bihar and reaffirmed that Nitish will proceed as chief minister after his appointment.
overcome well being issues
The historic 2025 mandate re-establishes Nitish because the one fixed in Bihar politics. His welfare-oriented governance, emphasis on ladies’s empowerment, ‘Sushasan Babu’ picture and the NDA’s broad social coalition contributed to the victory.
However the BJP’s historic efficiency with a strike fee of practically 90% now raises a brand new query: Will it enable Nitish to finish his full time period? Given his well being and occasional missteps, will he have the ability to full his time period? Or, given Bihar’s caste complexities, will the BJP keep away from destabilizing the present stability?
Yashwant Deshmukh, founding father of C-Voter, factors out that Nitish has failed many occasions however has at all times bounced again. “There was no anti-incumbency argument in opposition to him. Empowered ladies voters over the previous 20 years trusted him regardless of rumors about his well being.”
Ridicule, rumors and Nitish’s marketing campaign
Earlier than the election marketing campaign started, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav mocked Nitish’s well being and social media trolls focused the chief minister for garlanding a girl candidate throughout a rally in Muzaffarpur. JDU union president Sanjay Jha tried to cease him, however Nitish reprimanded Jha and positioned a garland round Rama Nishad’s neck. Even Rahul Gandhi mocked Nitish’s well being and claimed that he was a “puppet within the fingers of Amit Shah”. Nitish didn’t react.
Regardless of rumors about his well being, Nitish, 74, has attended 84 rallies, only one fewer than Tejashwi. House Minister Amit Shah defended Nitish in an interview with NDTV, mentioning that somebody who holds “5 to 6 gatherings in a day” is clearly in good well being.
JD(U)’s protection
JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar mentioned, “Throughout the election interval, Nitish held over 80 rallies. He’s wholesome and match to proceed as chief minister.”
He cited an incident throughout ticket distribution through which Nitish personally intervened and gave the occasion image to Ratnesh Sadda after coming to know that the seat had been moved with out Ratnesh Sadda’s approval. “This reveals how mentally delicate he’s.”
Limits of the BJP
Many Bharatiya Janata Celebration leaders agree that with such a powerful mandate, Nitish have to be revered. Makes an attempt to take away him will backfire on ladies and EBC voters. The NDA fought elections below Nitish’s management, however the Maharashtra formulation can’t be utilized to Bihar.
Ashwini Kumar of TISS argues that the socio-demographics of Bihar are very totally different from these of Maharashtra. Nitish and the BJP complement one another like ‘Luv-Kush’ and the BJP can’t danger dropping its help base amongst backward castes.
Samata Celebration founder Shivanand Tiwari says Nitish is doing every little thing the Bharatiya Janata Celebration desires. “Why ought to the BJP danger dropping the help of the EBC? Nitish’s function can also be very important to the steadiness of the central authorities.”
Writer Prem Kumar Mani mentioned Bihar’s social chemistry is exclusive and the Bharatiya Janata Celebration’s Hindutva narrative has by no means been utterly profitable within the state. The BJP is proscribed with out Nitish, who’s on the helm of each the EBC and the ladies’s vote. Nitish is ready as soon as loved by Karpoori Thakur.
Succession inside JD(U)
Because the NDA started making ready to type a brand new authorities, the query of succession was inevitable. JD(U) leaders say Nitish will make a selection on the proper time. As of now, that second has not come.
Many throughout the occasion have warned that the JD(U) dangers struggling an identical destiny to the BJD in Odisha, which has no clear successor to Naveen Patnaik. With out Nitish, the JD(U) might merge with both the BJP or the RJD. However solely Nitish is aware of the reply.
Nitish has by no means publicly named a successor. Even his closest aides like Vijay Chaudhary, Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh admit that they do not know his thoughts. Every time Nitish senses dishonesty, he acts resolutely. For instance, RCP Singh was dropped after he began getting near Amit Shah. Jitan Ram Manji was eradicated after the riot. Lallan Singh doubted the occasion’s inner democracy and was changed as state president.
In 2023, Nitish was re-elected as occasion president by Lallan following rumors of a secret assembly with Tejashwi.
JD(U) insiders admit that there isn’t a second-tier management with comparable stature to Nitish.
Nishant’s query
Regardless of strain throughout the management to convey Nitish’s son Nishant Kumar into politics, Nitish has not agreed. JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar mentioned, “The management desires Nishant to enter politics. It’ll energize the youth. However Nishant isn’t permitting it.”
Throughout the marketing campaign, Nitish repeatedly criticized Lalu Prasad Yadav for selling his household, saying his socialist background couldn’t help dynastic politics. Senior chief KC Tyagi admits that Nitish’s ideological roots make him reluctant to take him ahead.
Nitish stays indispensable because the JD(U) has no clear succession plan and the BJP can’t danger a generational change. Voters in Bihar rejected each Prashant Kishor and Tejashwi Yadav on this election, reaffirming the 74-year-old Nitish’s management.
Writer Prem Kumar Mani factors out that Kalpoori Thakur nurtured Nitish, Lal, Ram Vilas Paswan and plenty of others. Nevertheless, Nitish and Lal haven’t created a comparable second line. After the loss of life of Sushil Modi, there isn’t a backward caste chief like Nitish within the Bharatiya Janata Celebration. Because of this Nitish will proceed to serve till he decides to resign.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
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