Before 2019 Polls, Can Nitish Kumar Make Yet Another U-Turn?

Nitish Kumar, who was once termed PM material, is seemingly struggling to find his place within the NDA.

(Photo: The Quint)

“Na Ram ka hua, na Rahim ka hua,

Kuch Kabir si fitrat thi, har insan ka hua”

“Neither do I belong to Ram, nor do I belong to Rehman,

My nature is that of Kabir, I belong to every human”

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the above words in a different context in May 2014. After breaking his age-old friendship with the Bharatiya Janata Party and then getting back and forming an alliance with them last year, Nitish is seen standing at the crossroads once again.

Nitish, who was once termed prime minister material and was seen as a worthy opponent to Narendra Modi, is seemingly struggling to find his place within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, within the political spheres, it is being speculated that the Janata Dal (United) supremo can once again make a U-turn and join the anti-BJP camp before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Here are few pointers which reflect Nitish’s anti-BJP sentiment:

Questioning the Rationale Behind Demonetisation

The Bihar CM recently questioned how many people benefitted from demonetisation, which took his ally BJP, and even his own party members, by surprise.

In a meeting with bank officials, Nitish said:

I was a supporter of demonetisation... but how many people benefited from it? Some powerful people shifted their cash from one place to another.

Following his statement, Tejaswi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly taunted, "Our beloved Nitish uncle has taken another U-turn."

When Modi had announced demonetisation in November 2016, the Opposition severely criticised the move. At that point, Nitish was the only leader among the Opposition who had defended the note ban.

Displeasure Over Insufficient Flood Relief Funds

According to a recent report, Nitish was angry with the insufficient flood relief funds the state received from the Centre.

The report added that the Bihar government had sought for Rs. 7,600 crore for flood relief from the Centre in 2017 but only Rs 1,700 crore was sanctioned. Following further deductions, Bihar received only Rs 1,200 crore.

It is common to find a difference in demand and supply between the Centre and the states, but Nitish was hurt due to such neglect.

Upcoming General Elections and the ‘PM Material’ Tag

There was a time when Nitish Kumar was counted among the top leaders of the anti-BJP camp. He was even termed as the prime contestant for the prime ministerial position representing the united Opposition camp for the 2019 elections. But now, things have changed completely.

Before the Cabinet expansion of the Modi government, it was believed that JD(U) would be given a place in it. But that did not happen. Now, there are reports that Nitish is not even given feasible time to meet PM Modi.

With this neglect, it is possible that Nitish goes all out against the Modi government and get his tag of an influential leader back before 2019.

Which Card Can Nitish Now Play?

If Nitish were to put his chief ministership of Bihar at risk and pull out of the alliance with the BJP, then how will he justify this move publicly?

Political analysts in Bihar believe that Nitish has saved a trump card which he can play anytime.

If JD(U) and BJP break up, then Nitish can tell his state that the Modi government did not accept his demand of special status for Bihar, forcing him to cut his ties.  

Reports suggest that Nitish is planning a large campaign to raise this issue.

Another reason that he can give is that the country's social environment has deteriorated as well as the communal harmony decreased, due to which he is unhappy.

And when he does break ties with the BJP, he will be asked questions. He can with the few words say:

“Na Ram ka hua, na Rahim ka hua,

Kuch Kabir si fitrat thi, har insan ka hua”

(The story was originally published on Quint Hindi and has been translated)