CM Nitish Kumar at NDA leaders meeting in Patna
Nitish Kumar once again fears betrayal. Therefore, Nitish insisted on solidarity with NDA voters. Nitish stressed during the meeting that NDA meetings should be held from booth level to state level to send a clear message to the public in the Assembly elections that the alliance is united and there are no differences. JDU, which was stuck with 43 seats in 2020, is trying to learn lessons from history and move forward. Hence, no issue was discussed at the NDA meeting and this remains a thorn in the side of NDA voters.
The JDU became suspicious of the BJP after the 2020 election results were announced. Chirag Paswan was busy ruining the JDU by not fielding a single candidate against the BJP in the last assembly elections. Chirag was also successful. The NDA government was formed, but Nitish’s party JDU was reduced to just 43 seats. Nitish became CM, but he felt that the game was played by the BJP. Because the BJP now also wants to sit in the driver’s seat in Bihar.
Which party in the NDA is the JDU afraid of?
For this reason, in 2022, JDU left the NDA and joined the RJD. But the relationship with the RJD lasted only for a year and a half, and Nitish returned to the NDA. Nitish’s image took a big hit with such a reversal, but this time he wants to set a record in Bihar by convincing all NDA voters. Nitish’s strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections has been good and the central government has also campaigned with the support of Nitish’s party.
The BJP is currently on the defensive. Therefore, as the BJP failed to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, it was simultaneously announced that the National Democratic Alliance would contest the 2025 assembly elections under the leadership of Nitish. This time, the BJP cannot make much difference in the state. Meanwhile, Chirag Paswan’s party Hurriyat seems to be trying to forge better relations with Nitish, but there are doubts whether the BJP workers will be able to reconcile with Nitish, who has twice severed ties with the BJP and joined the party. There are doubts about Sh Kumar remaining wholeheartedly connected. RJD up.
In view of these possibilities, Nitish and his commanders held a meeting today. This meeting particularly emphasized the unity of the NDA. Apparently, the NDA this time includes the BJP, JDU, LJP (R), Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
Why is Nitish Kumar cautious about 2025?
Nitish Kumar joined the NDA in 2019 and in the Lok Sabha elections, the NDA managed to win 39 seats in Bihar. But the NDA’s condition did not fare well in the 2020 assembly elections. Due to Chirag’s opposition, Nitish’s number of seats was reduced to 43. Together with the BJP, Nitish successfully formed the government with only 12,000 votes ahead of his opponent. This time in the Lok Sabha elections, the Grand Alliance won 10 seats compared to just one.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the Left have formed a strong alliance with the RJD, and Mukesh Sani’s party VIP is also planning to contest the assembly elections along with Tejashwi Yadav. Clearly, the number of parties in the NDA has increased compared to the last election, as has the number of parties in the Grand Alliance. So, it’s obvious that this game is going to be interesting. Whatever work Nitish Kumar did in his 17 months in the government, the RJD started wooing the youth by calling it the work of Tejashwi Yadav.
Anti-incumbency campaign against Nitish also reaches peak in Bihar
Nitish has been the chief minister for the past 19 years. Therefore, anti-incumbencyism has also reached its peak. In this scenario, the RJD with strong support from Mukesh Sahni and the Left can change the narrative of the last 19 years. Its trailer was seen during the last parliamentary elections. Therefore, some say, the situation may change if RJD’s youth leader Tejashwi Yadav succeeds in attracting young people to join him. Apparently Nitish and his team are trying to prevent this. Therefore, efforts are being made to maintain a strong alliance at the district level by holding large meetings with the constituent parties.
Notably, Nitish Kumar summoned Congress MPs, MLAs, MLCs and district presidents of NDA voters in a meeting to give a mantra for the next elections, a clear indication of the doubts in the minds of JDU leaders. Nitish and his commanders believe that although the RJD won 39 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it missed the opportunity to come to power in the 2020 assembly elections due to the smaller number of MLAs. But this time the Grand Alliance won 10 seats in the Lok Sabha. Therefore, it is very important for the NDA to maintain genuine unity so that the RJD can play a big role in this assembly election.
JDU’s chart keeps falling
The JDU successfully formed a government, winning 125 seats in 2010, 71 seats in 2015, and 43 seats in 2020. But all the data is analyzing is how much JDU’s graph has dropped. But in 2020, Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan did not join the NDA, while Mukesh Sahni joined the NDA just before the elections. Apparently, this time Chirag and Upendra Kushwaha are together while Mukesh Sahni is separated. At the same time, RCP Singh, who is said to be Nitish’s right-hand man, will also form a party to contest the election.
Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party is trying to oust Nitish by calling him weak. In such a situation, Prashant Kishore can play the role of Chirag this time. This matter is also being discussed intensively. In Bihar, it is not clear whether Prashant Kishore will do more harm to the NDA or the Indian Union. It is said that the BJP voters can vote for Prashant Kishore at the place where the JDU candidate stands. So, this time Prashant Kishore will play the role of Chirag Paswan. This fear exists deep within the hearts of JDU leaders. Nitish Kumar therefore placed a high priority on unity in the meeting.
How will NDA voters resolve conflicts?
There are contradictions in the NDA. The submission of the Waqf Amendment Bill to the JPC is a good example of this. Lallan Singh’s strong support for the BJP in the Assembly gradually waned when voices of protest began to be raised within the JDU. The JDU and the BJP met face-to-face on various issues ranging from UCC to other issues. Apparently, the BJP is okay with JDU as it has the support of the Centre. But the opposition between the BJP and the JDU on many issues is obvious. The same was true with Prohibition. Jitan Ram Manjhi’s stance on this issue is different from that of JDU.
Conflict in elections can be costly
On the issue of reservation for SC-ST, Chirag Paswan’s party has openly opposed quotas. And Jitan Ram Manjhi came forward with his demand. These contradictions can be costly electorally. But all this aside, Nitish Kumar seems determined to unite all voters. To this end, the JDU seems to be clearing up the contradictions by not discussing Giriraj Singh’s Hindu Jagran Yatra in the meeting. Clearly, shifting votes from the constituent parties while keeping the base vote bank united appears to be a huge challenge for the JDU. That is why Nitish Kumar insists on promoting the NDA government instead of calling it Nitish government.
In fact, the NDA’s defeat in Karakot, Ara and Jehanabad in the Lok Sabha elections is alarming. During this process, many NDA voters voted in different ways. Therefore, Nitish Kumar wants to resolve all issues before the assembly elections.
