Patna: As the BJP’s strategy of dividing the NCP in Maharashtra with a swift political move has worked, there is a speculation that the BJP is preoccupied with the calculation of splitting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD (U) in Bihar in a similar manner.
Further, BJP Rajya Sabha Member and Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi has also made a public statement that the JD (U) will see the same fate as the NCP. Interestingly, LJP leader Chirag Paswan has also said that the JD (U) will not remain united for long.
Concern over investigation of scams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during their recent visit to Bihar, had attacked the JD (U)-RJD coalition Government, accusing it of corruption. If the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI speed up the investigation of old cases against leaders facing corruption charges, it will naturally shake up Nitish.
A couple of days ago, Nitish Kumar held a separate meeting with each and every MLA of his party and tried to get to know their minds. Nitish is also said to have indicated that he should show solidarity without leaving the party. The BJP is said to be working on a split in his party to oust Nitish, who has played a key role after Sharad Pawar in the formation of the opposition alliance, from the very beginning.
Will he return to the NDA?
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has the knack of forging an alliance with any party for power, has realised the “smell of electoral politics” and is likely to give up the possibility of forming an opposition alliance and join hands with the BJP again in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the 248-member Bihar Assembly, the grand alliance of JD (U), RJD and Congress has a strength of around 160.
Given the instances of Bihar politics in 2015 and the events of 2022, there is concern among the Congress and the RJD that Nitish Kumar can change his stand at any time. In 2015 too, Nitish Kumar, who had fought against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Government, had formed a grand alliance with the Congress and the RJD for the Bihar Assembly elections. However, in 2017, he broke the alliance and formed the Government with the BJP. In 2020, he contested the elections with the BJP and became Chief Minister and within two years, he rejoined the Congress and the RJD.