In a surprising turn of events, Janata Dal-United (JDU) chief Nitish Kumar took his ninth oath as Bihar Chief Minister, signaling a seismic shift in political alliances. Breaking away from the once formidable ‘Mahagathbandhan,’ Kumar severed ties with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, aligning himself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan not only marked a change in alliances but also introduced a revamped team, including key players such as Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, setting the stage for a political renaissance in Bihar.
At the core of this transition is Samrat Choudhary, the newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister and BJP state President. Choudhary, an OBC leader from the Koeri community, has traversed through various political parties, including the RJD and the JDU. His ascension to the state BJP chief role in March last year culminated in this strategic pairing, along with Vijay Kumar Sinha, an influential figure from the upper caste Bhumihar community.
Vijay Kumar Sinha’s political journey, originating from his days in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, took a significant turn when he entered electoral politics in 2010. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly in 2020. His tenure was marked by notable incidents, including Nitish Kumar’s outburst and a tense episode where he was held hostage by members of the RJD in 2021.
The deputy chief ministerial duo of Choudhary and Sinha underscores the BJP’s calculated move to balance caste considerations. This strategic alliance aims to appease OBCs while retaining the support of the core upper caste base.
The broader cabinet features leaders like Prem Kumar, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Vijendra Yadav, Santosh Kumar Suman, Shravan Kumar, and Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh. The composition reflects a careful blend of caste representations, strategically aligning with Bihar’s demographic diversity.
The political landscape further thickens with Nitish Kumar’s surprising departure from the ‘Grand Alliance’ and his renewed association with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The move, triggered by the non-realization of his Prime Ministerial aspirations, has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political circles. Kumar’s oscillations and alliance switches, once dubbed ‘Sushasan Babu,’ are now raising questions about principles and values.
Kumar’s actions have not only brought embarrassment to the followers of socialist leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia but have also sparked comparisons with the deft political maneuvering reminiscent of ‘Aya Ram Gaya Ram’ politics in Haryana during the late Sixties.
The BJP, with local leaders like Choudhary and Sinha at the helm, is poised to keep Kumar on a tight leash, ensuring that his political maneuvers do not destabilize the new government. The alliance with Kumar, however, serves the BJP’s larger goal of securing maximum Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in the upcoming general elections.
As election strategist Prashant Kishor predicts an uncertain future for Kumar’s government, it becomes evident that the BJP is strategically using Nitish Kumar to its advantage in the run-up to the national polls. The political chessboard in Bihar has been reshaped, and only time will reveal the repercussions of this seismic shift.