BJP Takes Cognizance Of Changing Climate In Bihar, Dharmendra Was In Patna To Take Stock
By D N Singh
After joining the dots what is happening in Bihar politics, observers have crossed their fingers over the directions driving the political course there.
Post the three occasions when Bihar Chief minister Nitish Kumar joined the Iftar parties hosted by the RJD fraternity, including Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav, some eyebrows were possibly raised in the Bharatiya Janata Party camps.
Although intimacy in social life and stance of political ideology (please read interest) are different, but in past very few occasions the ideological rift between BJP and Nitish-led JD(U) were manifest.
All said and done, the very recent visit of the Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan to Patna and having a close door talk with Nitish was something that cannot be lost sight of.
Perhaps a day before Prime Minister Modi’s European visit, Pradhan was assigned to air-dash to Patna and it would have been not for nothing.
The presidential poll is around the corner and the other is the general elections in 2024, which is not far away. One is the immediate need and the other is bolstering the base for another term in power for the BJP. Both are paramount.
Firstly, for the Prez election, the number game has its peculiarities. Besides, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar comes out as a rich dividend payer and then Madya Pradesh. Among the Southern states, barring Karanataka, saffron has little to gain. In West Bengal the BJP has no hope worthy of reckoning.
However, Nitish Kumar is a crafty politician and he would under no circumstances can distance himself from the power.
“ Realignment of politics is not the priority in Nitish Kumar’s scheme of things, now’ said Law Kumar Mishra, Patna-based veteran journalist.
“ Nitish Kumar does not prefer to work under pressure from the center”, said Brajesh Mishra, senior journalist, adding that, “Nitish is keeping his cards close to his chest and, in case, he choses for a new alignment, that would not be a surprise”.
“But he cannot over-look the repercussions that may come his ways when political vengeance plays out as in many recent cases the ED has been used as a hunting hound” quipped Brajesh Mishra.
Analysts in Bihar wonder why a successful crisis manager like Dharmendra Pradhan was given an half-an hour time.
It seems that Bihar chief minister is so far playing political footsie keeping in view the odds those may weigh upon him from the BJP.
But, for the BJP, Bihar remains one of the major hubs for political resurgence with 48 Lok sabha seats.
But giving an audience to a successful strategist like Pradhan for a short stint somehow imply the reservations within Nitish Kumar.
