With support for Kovind, Nitish Kumar has effectively moved back to NDA
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's support for NDA's presidential nominee has come as only the latest in a series of indications of Kumar's slow but steady drift back into the NDA camp.
The Janata Dal (United)'s formal announcement in support for Ram Nath Kovind was only a formality, given early indications from Kumar on 19 June itself that Kovind's nomination was “a matter of happiness” for him.
The JD(U) chief's support for the former Bihar governor wouldn't have been surprising if it was only based on the fact that the duo shared a comfortable relationship during Kovind's stint in the state.
No public bickering between them was ever reported and they were often seen together at public functions, greeting each other with utmost humility.
However, Kumar's support acquires a completely new meaning in the light of what is currently being discussed in political circles – that Kumar may have actually suggested Kovind's name to Modi.
It may be recalled that Kumar had conveniently skipped Sonia Gandhi's lunch for Opposition leaders in Delhi on 26 May and had instead lunched with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital the very next day.
Seen in retrospect, former JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav appears to have been sent to Gandhi's lunch only to sustain ambiguity in the party's stand that Kumar himself has maintained for a while now.
Ever since Kumar shocked the Opposition through his support for demonetisation, he has maintained this strategy of attacking the BJP-led Union government on small issues but has been sticking with them on bigger ones.
If he supported demonetisation during November-December 2016, he called for Opposition unity to take on the BJP, in April 2017.
And now, once again, he has extended support to the BJP's presidential nominee and has, at the same time refused to participate in the BJP-promoted Yoga Day celebrations, calling it a publicity stunt.
This is yet another example of Kumar's dualism, but the plaster of his mask is beginning to peel off now. There is a strong sense in political circles in Bihar that Kumar is ready to absorb the impact of his support for NDA.
And what will this impact be?
The impact at the national level will be a critical blow to Opposition unity.Only the Congress, Left parties, Trinamool Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal have been left in the Opposition camp, who still believe that the Opposition must field a candidate in the presidential polls to put up a token fight.
In Bihar, Kumar's decision will impact the governing coalition itself, as it will be quite an anomaly for two alliance partners to go one way and the third to go another way.
His decision has started creating a pressure on Congress and RJD to either support Kovind or deal with JD(U)'s support for him.
To cap it all, another critical development in Bihar's politics is unfolding simultaneously.
The Income Tax department has attached several properties linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's family members, leading to much embarrassment for the former CM, his wife and also former CM Rabri Devi, his son and deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and his daughter and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharati.
The attempt could be being made to threaten RJD into submission and force it to either support Kovind or leave the Grand Alliance in Bihar.
In the eventuality of the RJD's exit from the coalition, BJP could replace it and Kumar will not face any threat.
Another source of doubt over Kumar's alleged impatience with the RJD are the corruption allegations that the IT department is now probing.
The probe is based on allegations levelled against Yadav and his family by senior BJP leader Sushil Modi. But, most of these allegations were originally made by JD(U)'s Rajiv Ranjan Singh in 2010 when the two parties were rivals. Singh had even released several documents to support his claims.
For now, all eyes are on tomorrow's meeting of Opposition leaders after which they will announce their decision vis-a-vis the presidential polls.
First published: 21 June 2017, 17:59 IST
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