NITISH'S SILENCE ON MODI: LULL BEFORE THE STORM?

By Sakshi Shukla / Patna

Everything, it is said, is fair in love, war and well, politics. Everything in Nitish Kumar’s case includes going mellow on the most bitter of rivals when circumstances demand. All fire and brimstone against the BJP just a few weeks ago, the Bihar chief minister is lying unusually low these days, even letting the nastiest of barbs hurled at him by local BJP leaders pass. He is not even taking offence to giant posters of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi put up by the later, proclaiming him as the “future prime minister of India”.

His approach has turned more statesmanlike. “I have not noticed them (the posters of Modi). Rather, I have only seen them in newspapers. Finding a place in news encourages some people to indulge in such acts,” was all he would say in response to questions on the posters. “Everyone to free to put a banner of their leaders,” he added. What’s the reason behind the change of heart? Well, it seems to have more to do with the by-polls to the Maharjganj Lok Sabha seat, than anything about the heart.

The JD(U) has fielded its candidate from the seat and winning it is a matter of prestige for Nitish. Both the RJD and the Congress have fielded Rajput candidates as the seat is dominated by Rajput voters. The JD(U) has given ticket to Education Minister Prashant Kumar Shahi, a Bhumihar by caste. Numerically, this caste comes third after Rajputs and Yadavs in the constituency. To make his candidate successful, Nitish needs the support of all the Bhumihar voters, who are traditionally supporters of the BJP. Any adverse comment on Modi could displease the caste members. Hence, the golden silence from his side.

There is also a story going around that the Congress has put up its candidate on the request of the JD(U), which is said to have entered into some sort of “deal” with the later in view of the coming Lok Sabha polls. Initially, the Congress was not so enthusiastic about jumping into the fray and had announced that it would stay away from the contest. Whatever the truth, Nitish pressing the mute button on himself is interesting. Things could get more interesting after the election is over.

NDA in Bihar means Nitish Kumar, no one else. Anyone who tries to act smart before him draws his ire. BJP’s parliamentarian from Darbhanga, Kirti Azad, learnt it the hard way recently. Azad was given a dressing down by the chief minister after he raised the issue of his constituency during a review meeting in Darbhanga, chaired by Nitish Kumar. The MP raised objection twice when he found the officials present at the meeting were not presenting the real picture of the area. But each time, he was asked to keep quiet. An indignant Azad later went to the press, crying foul and condemning the rude behaviour of the chief minister.

The issue led to a verbal spat between the BJP and the JD(U). The latter sought action against Azad and also reminded him how he had pestered Nitish for days for an election rally in his constituency to improve his winning chance. The JD(U) also termed Azad as “mannerless”, which has been strongly objected to by the BJP.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has contradicted the statement of Azad. “Nothing like this has happened. This issue has been blown out of proportion. I am surprised,” he remarked. He also claimed that it is the prerogative of the government to invite an MP to a review meeting, indicating he clearly who calls the shots in Bihar.

All those calling RJD president Lalu Prasad a spent force, must swallow their words. His Parivartan Rally at Patna on 15 May was an indicator that the wily politician may be down, but he is certainly not out. An impressive crowd turned up at the Gandhi Maidan to hear him and kept standing in the scorching sun waiting for the leader to address them.

Gandhi Maidan, which has a capacity of around three lakh, was not full to capacity, but there were still enough people to make the rally grand. People made it to the rally braving 44 degree Celsius heat and ignoring personal engagements at the peak of the marriage season. The fact that the RJD has been out of power for close to a decade and it could still manage the crowd is significant.

The success of this rally is underlined by the fact that almost all major parties—the JD(U), the BJP and the Congress—reacted sharply to it. While JD(U) and the BJP alleged the RJD rally had no real agenda other than launching the unemployed sons of Lalu in politics, the Congress described it as a total flop. The former even went a step forward and registered a case against the RJD leader for allegedly making defamatory remarks against some senior leaders.

All along, the parties had been treating him with a degree of disdain. Things could be changing for Lalu; the rally is an indicator.