From being lauded as a paragon of ‘sushasan’ (good governance) in Bihar to becoming a fodder for comedic memes due to his frequent political turnabouts, the JDU (Janata Dal (United))- leader Nitish Kumar has come a long way. Swearing in as Bihar’s Chief Minister for the ninth time on January 28, 2024, Kumar cemented his departure from the INDIA bloc of opposition parties and his simultaneous inclusion into the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-dominated NDA (National Democratic Alliance). Previously, he headed different governing coalitions in Bihar sometimes in alliance with the BJP and sometimes with the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), the INC (Indian National Congress), and the Left Front. His political turnarounds have puzzled commentators and defied standard political trends.
Several explanations have been offered for his most recent shift towards the NDA which range from a conflict of prime ministerial ambitions among senior leaders within the INDIA bloc to pressures from the Enforcement Directorate. Before privileging any explanation, it is important to note the broader context and trends which mark the contemporary political landscape that Nitish Kumar inhabits.
The BJP’s winning formula combining Hindu Nationalist ideological appeal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal popularity, and centralised welfare delivery mechanism has resulted in the shrinking presence of once-influential backward caste-based regional (‘Mandal’) parties such as the RJD, the SP (Samajwadi Party), etc. In the successive elections, the JDU itself has witnessed a sustained loss of its vote share among its core constituency- the Economically Backward Classes (EBC), to the BJP. The constituency of women in Bihar- which had been carefully cultivated by Nitish Kumar, and which has become increasingly salient and autonomous in the recent elections, has also demonstrated rising electoral support for the BJP. The Modi government’s decision to posthumously award the Bharat Ratna to the social justice icon Karpoori Thakur has further jolted the Mandal parties. Deepening the BJP’s cross-caste electoral appeal, the emotionally charged inauguration of the Ram Temple seems to have further harmed the electoral prospects of the oppositional parties.
Under these circumstances, Nitish Kumar’s most recent political turnaround can be interpreted as a triumph of pragmatism against ideologically principled politics as well as an attempt to ensure relevance in a dynamic political space. In an era of mediatised, perception-driven politics, for the INDIA bloc, and more specifically for parties such as the RJD and the INC, such acts of desertion seem to connote a lack of internal communication and trust while it invariably strengthens the BJP’s standing. The upcoming general election and the Bihar state assembly elections in the year after will decide Kumar’s political fate. At the same time, it will pose difficult questions to the voters of Bihar related to the responsibilities of a political representative and the role that principles play, if any, in today’s era of political opportunism. P.C - https://m.rediff.com/news/report/nitish-kumar-wins-trust-vote-by-129-votes-oppn-walks-out/20240212.htm
Comentários