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| Nitish and Modi shaking hands, these are one of the rare occasions. |
New Delhi: When Prime Minister Modi announced 125 lakh crore mega package for Bihar, he ruffled many feathers, attracting immediate criticism from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Kumar said that PM’s “mannerism” did not behove his stature.
Nitish alleged that PM was announcing package as if he were bidding for Bihar. Somebody who claimed to be the servant of the people before elections, how can he be the master.”
Nitish Kumar’s annoyances can be well understood, who could neither reject the package completely nor welcome it.
The stakes are very high for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his political arch-rival Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ahead of high voltage Bihar elections.
We have already seen the preview of Bihar’s thrilling political melodrama in recent months, which is all set to get murkier by each passing day.
Bihar elections have been interesting and politically significant and capable of setting the narrative of Indian politics.
Forces with and against Modi have positioned themselves to protect their political turfs.
The big question is why electorate of Bihar will give another chance to Nitish, who came to power riding on anti-Laloo wave. Those, who witnessed heady days of jungle raj in Bihar in early and late 90,s would shudder at the very thought of getting it again.
Since Nitish Kumar is the face of so-called anti-Modi amalgamation, why on earth would people believe that if Laloo becomes powerful, he will not disturb and derail Nitish’s cart?
Electorate sympathises with Nitish for the work he did during his first term, but he second term and the third term as chief ministership embroiled with internal squabbling, one-upmanship.
In Bihar and outside, Nitish has been able to project himself as a Modi’s potent opposition, whether he would be able to translate this into electoral gains for the combine would be interesting to note.
While, on the other hand, BJP has not yet declared its chief ministerial candidate and in likelihood, PM Modi will remain their chief campaigner.
BJP has another Modi in Sushil Modi though he is a no match to Nitish Kumar. Sushil Modi and Nitish have been friends and well aware of each other’s weaknesses. Sushil Modi has stood his ground quite well in last two years and led his party quite strongly. Though there have been murmurs in BJP’s Bihar unit against Sushil Modi but BJP would reject it saying that this happens in poll-bound states.
Have we forgotten Haryana, where there were four-five strong contenders for the post of chief minister? Manohar Lal Khattar was appointed as chief minister by PM Modi out of nowhere. Khattar and BJP were nowhere in the reckoning in Haryana.
Interestingly, each time Modi goes to Bihar, he raises a lot of heat and dust. His recent remarks about Bihar’s DNA kicked up the huge storm, giving Nitish Kumar enough ammunition to fire the salvo at Modi.
It would appear odd, but this is a fact that BJP has been part of the Nitish-led coalition government which ruled Bihar for close to 8 years.
Modi chooses to pick up topics of under-development, lack of education and highlight how he always wanted to help Bihar to get rid off “Bimaru” tag. This hurt Nitish the most, who modelled himself as the messiah of development.
Modi’s knack for touching the raw nerve rubbed Nitish the wrong way to the extent that he was forced to raise signature campaign against Modi as how and why he could call Bihar a “Bimaru” state.
Nitish Kumar, who was once projected as messiah of development, could have never digested Modi’s “uncalled for” remarks, which according to Nitish Kumar damaged Bihar’s image, hurt Bihari prestige (Asmita)
Nitish Kumar has been telling Biharis to believe what he says. During his recent visit to Delhi Nitish forged up a friendship with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who is known Modi baiter.
Political enmity between both the leaders date back to year 2014, when Modi was announced as BJP’s Prime ministerial candidate, while Nitish Kumar at one point of time, nursed the ambition of becoming NDA’s Prime ministerial candidate.
Nitish Kumar has assiduously crafted the image of “Vikas purush” (a man of development) over the years while Narendra Modi was struggling to get out of Gujarat mess, created after 2002 communal riots.
Modi belonged to the school of the Sangh family, while Nitish belonged to once-famed Lohia school of thought, who had waged the war against imposition of emergency in 1975 under the tallest socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan or JP.
Modi and Nitish would be discussed and debated in months to come. Their statements and speeches will be analysed with a pinch of salt. This is the beauty of the democracy.
