15/12/2016

Nitish, Hardik Patel meet gives a new twist to JD(U)’s stand





Patna,(BiharTimes): The Tuesday meeting between Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Akhil Bharatiya Patel Navnirman Sena (ABPNS) chief and leader of Patidar Andolan Hardik Patel, made it amply clear that the Janata Dal (United) president is, in no way, going to return to the NDA fold as was being speculated in a section of media after demonetization.

Patel, along with  Maratha Kranti Morcha convener Brigadier (TRetired) Sudhir Samant from Maharashtra and Gujjar Andolan leader Himmat Singh from Rajasthan, met Bihar chief minister on Tuesday. The latter even hosted a lunch for the visiting guests.

Patel formally invited Nitish to address a rally in Gujarat to support the Patidars’ demand for reservation in the state government jobs and in educational institutions.

The meeting is politically significant as it suggests that the Bihar CM is following anti-Narendra Modi stand and is in no way drifting towards the BJP.

Patels of Gujarat have social affiliation with Kurmis of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Many Kurmis have Patel as their surname too.

But much depends on the stand Nitish would take on the issue of reservation. After all Dalits are also quite restive both in Gujarat and Maharashtra and JD(U) can not afford to lose balance as in Bihar it strongly champions the cause of Mahadalits.

Political observers are a bit surprised over the attention paid to Hardik Patel by Nitish Kumar as he is too young to be given so much importance.

Besides, after 2005 Nitish normally does not associate himself with caste leader. But this time he has not only gave his willingness to attend Pataidars’ rally in Gujarat, but also accepted invitation from Brig Samant and Gujjar leader Singh.

“As he wants to emerge as a national alternative to Narendra Modi he would have to rise above the caste considerations. It is ironical that Nitish, who seldom plays Kurmi card in Bihar is getting dragged into Kurmi/Patel politics in UP and Gujarat,” an analyst told BiharTimes on condition of anonymity.

Hardik Patel’s meeting came only 10 days after the Dalit leader of Gujarat, Jignesh Mewani’s trip to  Patna. He was here to attend the three day conclave of National Alliance of People’s Movement (Dec 2-4).

The December 13 development suggest that Nitish can go to any extent to build bridges with non-Congress opposition forces in several states.  For this he can shake hands with political greenhours.

Anyway he has stumped all the media commentators.

 

 

 

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