A year ago, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the BJP had closed its doors to JDU leader Nitish Kumar. However, in a surprising turn of events that has sent ripples through political circles months before the Lok Sabha polls, Nitish Kumar, the eight-time Chief Minister, has once again aligned with the BJP. This marks his fifth flip-flop in a decade, contributing to a swift decline in his popularity and his party’s electoral performance.
Sources reveal that BJP MLAs in Bihar have expressed their support for Nitish Kumar by providing letters of support. A meeting of party MLAs was held in Patna shortly before Kumar submitted his resignation to Governor Rajendra Arlekar.
The question arises as to why the BJP is willing to welcome Nitish Kumar back into the NDA fold despite his repeated switches across the political spectrum. NDTV explores some factors influencing the BJP’s decision.
NITISH KUMAR RESIGNED
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Nitish Kumar has been a prominent figure in the Opposition’s INDIA bloc and played a key role in forging a united front against the formidable BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh emphasizes that Kumar was instrumental in convening INDIA meetings, and his sudden reversal puts the Opposition bloc in a difficult position just months before the Lok Sabha polls. It also lends credence to the BJP’s claim that the Opposition bloc is an unstable alliance.
For the BJP, Nitish Kumar’s flip-flop presents an advantage in Bihar, a state with 40 Lok Sabha seats that was previously seen as an INDIA stronghold. The already strained seat-sharing talks between Congress and Trinamool Congress in Bengal, and Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, would face further challenges if the RJD-JDU alliance in Bihar comes to an end. Despite some state BJP leaders opposing Nitish Kumar’s return, the central leadership may have approved the move after considering the broader political landscape.
Examining the state equation, Nitish Kumar has managed to cling to the Chief Minister’s post over the past decade despite his political oscillations. However, his popularity and his party’s electoral performance have steadily declined. Despite being in the Chief Minister’s chair, his party is now the third-largest force in the Assembly, diminishing Kumar’s autonomy. The BJP recognizes that even if Kumar retains the Chief Minister post, it holds greater control over Bihar’s government decisions, making it a win-win situation for the BJP.
Nitish Kumar’s frequent changes in alliances have adversely affected his public image. The BJP, aware of this, understands that it stands to lose little in the perception game, as it is not a section of ruling party MLAs defecting. Unlike situations in Madhya Pradesh or Maharashtra where the BJP was accused of engineering mutinies to topple governments, in Bihar, with Kumar repeatedly changing allies, the BJP is less likely to be seen as the instigator.
BJP leaders have resorted to their “jungle raj” rhetoric to justify their willingness to team up with Nitish Kumar again. The term “jungle raj” refers to the corruption- and crime-tainted tenure of the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD. BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok emphasized the party’s commitment to not leaving Bihar in the hands of ‘Jungle Raj.’
