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NEW DELHI: The BJP and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi took the nail biting drama to the very edge before the latter resigned, and gave way to Janata Dal(U) leader Nitish Kumar to form the government. This was only because the party legislators did not switch loyalties and Manjhi was unable to break the JD(U) to ensure a majority government in Bihar with BJP support.
The drama was stretched across days, with Kumar being elected as the chief of the JD(U) legislature party; Manjhi refusing to resign as Chief Minister; Manjhi being expelled from the party; Kumar parading MLA’s before President Pranab Mukherjee; Kumar returning disheartened to Bihar to wait for February 20 to prove majority on the floor of the Assembly; Manjhi making assertive noises after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders through the days; and finally Manjhi resigning on February 20 to clear the way for Kumar to take oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar.
High drama that had Kumar, pulling an Arvind Kejriwal moment when he apologised to the voters of Bihar for having deserted them mid way. At a press conference Nitish Kumar said that this was a mistake, that he had realised it, as was now back to ensure that all promises were fulfilled and the state brought back on to the rails.
"With folded hands, I apologise to the people of Bihar. Never again will I take such a step. I am ready to lead from the front," he said.
Kumar and other Janata Dal(U) leaders were clear that the BJP aim was to split the party, by pointing the gun from Manjhi’s shoulders. But this did not succeed, with a senior leader pointing out, that these “manipulations had exposed the BJP before the people.”
As The Citizen had reported earlier, the JD(U) had decided to go for a course correction in Bihar that will be going to the polls later this year, by bringing Nitish Kumar back as the Chief Minister. This was seen as the first essential step by all senior leaders of the party to ensure a winning chance at the hustings.
The entire Opposition, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal that is in alliance with the JD(U) now, the Congress party and the Left parties had rallied behind Nitish Kumar against the BJP, to ensure that he had the numbers to survive the floor test if required. Kumar is hoping for a similar alliance in the elections, and his term in office from now on will be working towards this end.
At his press conference he attacked the BJP roundly, accusing them of conspiring to keep him out of office. He said that the party was playing not just the communal card, but also the caste card. He said these attempts to divide society had to be resisted, for inclusive growth, development and progress.
The BJP is red faced after this ‘defeat’ with the party clearly counting on mass defections from the JD(U) in favour of Manjhi who was being projected by himself and the state unit of the BJP as the Dalit face of Bihar. This clearly has not worked, and the legislators remained with Nitish Kumar through the thick and thin of the ‘trial.’ One of the reasons for this, according to a senior JD(U) leader, was the defeat of the BJP in Delhi at the hands of the Aam Aadmi Party that has made the people realise that it is not invincible, and that a good opposition can move into the drivers seat quite easily.
Nitish Kumar was recognised by the Bihar electorate as an able administrator, who had taken several steps for the welfare and the security of the marginalised sections of society. The alliance with the RJD is expected to consolidate the erstwhile Janata Dal votebank in his favour.
