Nitish as Kingmaker: As JD(U) Leader Puts to Rest All Doubts about Political Future, What's His Next Move?

From being called “Paltu Kumar” to a possible kingmaker: life is coming full circle for Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. The Janata Dal (United) appears to be on course to win about 15 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, at least three more than the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was being seen as the senior partner in the run-up to these polls. The JD(U) numbers are being viewed as even more creditable considering the party fought on 16 seats. The BJP fought on 17 seats while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) got 6, and Jitan Ram Majhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha got 1.

JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha called the results and trends a reaffirmation of Nitish Kumar’s leadership. “It is a referendum on Mr Kumar’s work for development…He is Vikas Purush of the state and people have voted for him,” Kushwaha said.

What worked for Nitish

It was speculated since Nitish Kumar’s return to the National Democratic Alliance fold that this election will be fought by the coalition in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not the CM. The results, however, show that the “Sushashan Babu” image of Nitish lives on. The opposition tried to label him a turncoat but failed to make it a political issue. Even Tejashwi Yadav was careful in his choice of words about Nitish after the split.

The credit war for the 5 lakh jobs given by the erstwhile Nitish-Tejashwi government was a talking point in Bihar. While Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders like Misa Bharti claimed full credit for Tejashwi, the JD(U) was quick to point out that it was implemented by CM Nitish Kumar.

Nitish also assured the Muslims that their interests wouldn’t suffer after his return to the NDA. “Kahe ke liye aap BJP ke khiaf hain? Hum jo bhi kaam aapke liye kiye wo unke saath hi na kiye. Wo kabhi roke nahi (Why are you against BJP? Whatever work I did for you, I did in an alliance with them. They didn’t stop me),” Nitish said in Katihar, addressing the Muslim voters. He also reminded the community in his outreach exercises that no communal riots had happened in Bihar since he took power.

While the INDIA front hoped that its MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination and apprehensions about Nitish joining hands with the BJP would be enough, the results indicate otherwise.

Speculation about Nitish’s next step

The 90% plus strike rate of the JD(U) and overall NDA numbers in the country could make Nitish and Andhra Pradesh’s N Chandrababu Naidu crucial to the NDA getting a majority.

Nitish in an election rally in Aurangabad in March had told PM Modi that he would not desert him ever again. “You had come earlier as well but I had vanished. But I am with you now. I assure you that I will not go here and there. I will stay with you only,” Nitish had said. But on Tuesday as numbers between NDA and the INDIA front ran neck and neck, speculation was rife on whether opposition parties will reach out to Nitish yet again to try and stop the BJP from retaining power.

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi told news agency ANI that the party is not contemplating any change at the moment. “Nitish ji has met PM Modi and returned to Patna yesterday. We are sticking to our stance of not leaving NDA. We reiterate our faith in NDA,” he said.

Sources told CNN-News18 that Sharad Pawar dialled Nitish Kumar even as results were trickling in. Soon after, deputy CM and Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary went to Nitish’s residence to call on him.