Nitish, party eyeing national-level role

The massive poll victory has brought Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the centre stage at the national level and he and his party has started positioning for a big role.

Though it may not be easy for him to make all the regional leaders agree to accept him as the rallying point against the BJP, his recent emergence will certainly bring about realignment of anti-BJP forces to his benefit.

Kumar and the JD(U) have started talking about this possible role. The Bihar chief minister has already made his intention clear in Patna on Sunday while addressing the media. He said that there is a need of “strong opposition at Centre” and Bihar results will “contribute” to crystallise it.

Same views are being expressed by other leaders in the party. JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said, “It is our responsibility to defend Bihar from the divisive forces embodied by BJP/ RSS, but also to  now  ensure that the intolerant and arrogant government at the Centre be given a lesson through Parliament”.

However, leaders admit that it would take time. They say that the party would campaign against the Modi government on issues like “communalism”, “farmers’ issues” and “inclusive growth” and try to bring all the forces together.  “Carving out a national role for the party or Nitish Kumar is a task that could only be achieved by a sustained campaign and it will take time,” a senior leader told Deccan Herald.

Lalu Prasad indicated about a new role for JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance while talking to media in Patna. He declared that he would be visiting the prime minister’s Lok Sabha constituency in Varanasi to monitor whether Narendra Modi has fulfilled his promises to the voters.

Though, he has said that Nitish would be managing the state, JD(U) leaders say that only Nitish could be the face of such a campaign. 

Lalu’s declaration indicates line of thinking in the Mahagathbandhan on realignment of anti-BJP forces in Uttar Pradesh where elections are due in 2017. Lalu did not mention the name of Mulayam Singh.

A senior leader said a tie-up with Mayawati’s BSP could also be explored. JD(U) leaders said the Congress would willingly support Nitish at the national level, but bringing regional players on board will not be easy. They mention Mamata, Jayalalitha and Naveen Patnaik in this context.