Lalu-Nitish alliance may revive Mandal politics in Bihar

This could be another round of “Mandal politics” if two powerful backward leaders in Bihar — Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar — come together. Kumar has spoken to Lalu to seek his support for Janata Dal (United) candidates in Rajya Sabha polls who are facing difficulty in getting through because some of their own party MLAs may vote against them.

According to PTI, Kumar spoken to Lalu in Patna. “I have talked to Lalu Prasad, Congress state chief Ashok Choudhary, its legislature party leader Sadanand Singh and CPI secretary Rajendra Singh seeking their support for victory of two JD(U) candidates in the bypoll to Rajya Sabha in Bihar,”  the agency has quoted him as saying.

JD(U) candidates Pawan Verma and Gulam Rasool Balyawi are in a difficult spot because of the rebellion in the party. About 10 MLAs may vote against them. The BJP is all set to vote for rival candidates — Sabir Ali and Anil Sharma — contesting as independents.

Kumar acknowledges that the political situation has changed and there is a need to take on BJP with the help of Lalu Prasad.

According to the agency, he said, “It is due to political circumstance. Now, we have to fight a common enemy in BJP which is mocking at us.”

The Lok Sabha results obviously made the Mandal leaders of Bihar  — Sharad Yadav, Nitish and Lalu — realise that if they fight among themselves, they would be finished. Yadav was the first to realise it and he soon announced that a new strategy would be initiated  to help Lalu and Nitish sink their differences.

Though both Lalu and Nitish avoided a joint public appearance, they are sending signals of their coming together.