Patna,(BiharTimes): The sudden bonhomie between Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav has made political observers sit up and ponder as to what is happening in Bihar. 

Questions are doing the rounds that if this present trend continues will Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal go for alliance in the next Assembly election. If so what shape will it take?

Even more crucial question is: Who among the two––the Bade Bhai or Chote Bhai will make sacrifice?

Though Janat Dal (United)-CPI alliance could get only 17 per cent votes in the recently held Lok Sabha election, at present Nitish Kumar is in slightly better place than Lalu Yadav, even though the RJD-Congress-NCP together got 30 per cent votes.

Nitish can still boast that he has about 100 MLAs on his side against RJD, which has 21. As a ruling party in the state the JD (U) can still play some cards. True JD(U) may no more split the RJD, the latter as always, is prone to any such move. It is only recently that the JD(U) broke several RJD MLAs and made them ministers.

The RJD, in contrast, has very few options and may have to play second fiddle in any future alliance.
Though it would be too early to say as to how will the alliance fare in the Assembly election next year the coming together of Nitish and Lalu after two decades of bitter rivalry itself is an acceptance of the fact that they both have grown weak and the BJP has become stronger in the state.

Both Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar may make a compromise on the post of the chief minister and let Jitan Ram Manjhi rule. However, both will seek their own pound of flesh.

If they fight unitedly they may hope to get Mahadalit, EBC, Yadav and Muslim votes. But much depends on how the alliance works and how the present government function. After all on paper everything appears to be in favour of the BJP now.

Though Nitish is trying his level best to win back the upper caste votes, especially of Bhumihars, it is to be seen how will he succeed with RJD as a partner. 

A large section of upper castes still hate Lalu Yadav and in recent months equally strong number have started detesting Nitish.

But what will happen if the electoral tie up did not work. After all Nitish is known for quick change in stand. Last year when he was about to split with the BJP he befriended the Congress party and started escorting Union ministers like P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid etc. But the moment he realized that he is a bit safe, he turned his back. Though he had to pay the price for this U-turn.
But has he learnt the lesson?