Now, it's operation 'woo Nitish'

Bihar CM is approached by all stakeholders for forming the next govt at Centre

With Nitish’s Janata Dal (United) likely to win a majority of the 25 (out of 40) seats it is contesting in Bihar, the Congress and the Left parties want him to be on their side after the D-day of May 16, when the results are out. The BJP is wooing him for a different reason: the party desperately wants him to remain with it.

The effect of the “woo Nitish” operation is already there for everyone to see. The Congress has been giving him a call almost on a daily basis—even its heir apparent Rahul Gandhi endorsed the progressive works of the JD(U) leader in Bihar.

The all-round praise for its ally, especially from its rivals, has no doubt been most agonising for the BJP as much as it is for the Congress allies Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan, the other two Bihar strongmen. Kumar, on his part, has often said the JD’s ties with the BJP will continue. However, he also said: “I have worked with the Left parties during the Janata Dal days, and I respect them, and I’m in agreement with them on a number of issues.”

It is interesting to note that during his election campaign, Nitish rarely mentioned the name of the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani but kept talking of “a favourable government at the Centre for Bihar’s development.” Advani campaigned only in two constituencies in the state that too those contested by the BJP. The JD(U) was conscious it did not want the saffron mascot to campaign for its candidates, worried it might rattle the Muslim voters.

Popularity

What has made Nitish so popular in Bihar? After becoming the chief minister in October 2005, Nitish addressed issues to which his predecessors Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi had given scant regard. Law and order improved significantly while infrastructure, especially the roads, saw a marked improvement. He launched several schemes aimed at Muslims, Dalits and the backward communities. These schemes effectively ensured that the MY (Muslim-Yadav) vote bank of Lalu was broken. The JD is said to have secured a big chunk of the 1.3 crore-strong Muslim vote of the state in the elections.

So, what are the chances of Nitish going with the Congress or the Third Front? While Nitish’s policies show he is closer to the Congress and the Third Front, political compulsions may force him to stay back with the NDA. Otherwise, he will have to sacrifice his government which survives on the support of 65 MLAs of the BJP. There is also fear of a split within his party.

On the contrary, he will support the UPA or the Third Front only if he does extremely well in the elections so that it will give him confidence to go alone in the fresh polls and win the majority. Breaking with the BJP would mean he will win the crucial Muslim votes and isolate Lalu in the near future. Either way, he is sure to have a big say in the next government.