Nitish's Support to Centre on Key Issues Fuels Speculations

Nitish’s support to Centre on key issues fuels speculations Backing the Union government on demonetisation and appointment of New Army Chief is being seen as a hint that the Bihar CM has developed a soft corner for Modi’s administration 

- Kanhaiya Bhelari

Ever since the Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar supported demonetization, the political atmosphere is agog with speculation of his ‘Ghar Wapsi’ or going with the BJP anytime. The speculation gained further momentum when he sided with the Centre on the issue of appointment of Lt General Bipin Rawat as new army chief by superseding two senior-most officers. The national general secretary of the Janta Dal (U) KC Tyagi was reported to have been silenced when he made a statement against the Centre on the appointment of the general. Sources said that “Nitish, as the national president of the party, advised him not to make adverse comments on the issues concerning the interest of the nation”. This development gave enough fodder to his political adversaries to push their contention forward.

But, the message is loud and clear that each and every decision of the Union government should not be criticised on the mere ground that the Janta Dal (U) is a party of opposition. “I have always been supportive throughout my political career to strengthen the nation’s image”, said Nitish. “Sometimes we are required to think above the politics when it comes to think about the pride of the country.”

Nitish does not do gimmicks for cheap political advantage. He broke his long political innings with Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1994 after the latter started roughly ignoring him. Similarly, the bearded chief minister was forced to break up the 17-yearold successful association with the BJP in June 2013 when his voice of not nominating Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate fell on deaf ears. “How could a man be PM when 20 percent of country’s population hates him,” he was quoted as saying.