When Bihar CM Nitish Kumar asked people to vote on PM Narendra Modi's name in his native Nalanda district, the symbolism was not lost to the observers. Though Nitish made this appeal on several occasions elsewhere in this election, yet making such appeal on his home turf which is also strong hold of Kurmis, (the caste he belongs to) indicates his shaken confidence.
Indeed, despite JDU's success in bagging Lok Sabha seats on equal footing with BJP, the NDA's election campaign in Bihar turned out to be a complete Modi show. In fact, it's the first instance in long association with BJP that Nitish appeared to come to the term with his second fiddle role in the state politics.
However, writing off Nitish would be a mistake given the fact that he has mastered the art of tight rope walking. Over the years he has learnt the art of surviving in the treacherous political landscape of the state with all the vulnerabilities.
On the other hand, Bihar cm hardly misses any chance in playing to his strength. Emerging out of a polling booth on May 19, Nitish went on to attack BJP's Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya Thakur for her remarks against Mahatma Gandhi. He said the saffron party should seriously consider taking action against Sadhvi.
Observers are of the view that till Sunday morning when Nitish was coming out from the booth the prospect of NDA coming to the power was not too bright. It was only later in the evening exit polls predicted comfortable NDA victory. Perhaps, the exit poll poured cold water on one of his plans. It appears that ex Rajya Sabha M.P. Ghulam rasool Balyawi's remark that Nitish Kumar should be made prime ministerial candidate as NDA is not getting the majority was part of the same plan.
A section of analysts straight away dismissed Nitish's comment on Pragya Thakur especially because of the choice of his timing. When the fate of the parties has been sealed in the ballot box it is inconsequential to lodge his protest. Came too little, too late was usual refrain for most of them.
“This is pure political posturing. In case NDA comes to power Nitish wants to seek his pound of flesh or who knows, he would be preparing ground for another switch over assuming that Narendra Modi led alliance will fall short of the magic number,” says Parveen Kumar Madhu, a social activist. “Why was he mute all along the election when BJP has crossed every yardstick of sobriety and went overboard to communalise the election campaign”, he further added.
The road ahead appears no less bumpy for Nitish. The immediate challenge before him would be to win more seats than BJP to keep his bargaining position intact. Simultaneously, he would be praying for decline in the saffron party's fortune. If BJP's number rest significantly below to the majority mark, JDU would latched on to the opportunity to raise its stock within NDA.
However, if NDA gets comfortable majority and BJP having its share more or less intact, Janta Dal United future will be uncertain.
In such case, the priority for Nitish would be to save the chief ministerial ship as the assembly election is scheduled to be held in 2020. Many state BJP leaders are eyeing for the top post and trying to convince the national leadership to go alone as, they think the party has become a force to reckon within the state.
