New Delhi, July 12: As trouble brews in the Janata Dal United-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi have called Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in less than 24 hours. With growing closeness between once allies JD(U) and Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress is not taking any chances in the state where it is a part of the government.
After the Central Bureau of Investigation named Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in its chargesheet in an alleged corruption case, Nitish is treading cautiously and has so far remained silent on the issue. In a meeting with JD(U) leaders, Nitish has hinted that he expects Tejashwi’s resignation. The RJD, on the other hand, has ruled out Tejashwi’s resignation. The Congress is now trying to reach a compromise formula.
Tejashwi is second in command in the Bihar government and had said that the case against him is a political vendetta. “I had pledged zero tolerance to corruption when I took over as minister. Not one case of corruption in my three departments so far. FIR against me is political vendetta. It is a conspiracy by Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From day one, they have tried to break our alliance,” said Tejashwi.
Nitish, who has a clean image, wants to remain clear of any controversy. And the corruption allegation against the Deputy Chief Minister is only problematic. Even the BJP has made it clear that it is open to giving outside support to the Nitish government if he breaks ties with his current alliance.
After Nitish decided to support National Democratic Alliance candidate and former Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind in the presidential candidate, it left a dent on the Opposition’s unity. Avoiding a similar mess, where it took time to decide former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar as its presidential nominee, the 18 opposition parties announced former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as their candidate for the vice presidential election.
Even though Nitish sent senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav to attend the Opposition meeting on vice presidential election, Rahul called on Nitish informing him about the decision. Nitish returned the call confirming his support to Gopalkrishna’s candidature. The Gandhis called him to thank him for the gesture. Sources say Rahul and Nitish discussed a host of other issues as well.
After Nitish declared his support to Kovind, Congress leaders also attacked the JD(U) chief. But to avoid a bigger mess, Rahul jumped in and reportedly asked party leaders not to criticise Nitish and warned of strict action against them. Rahul who was keen on meeting Nitish and a meeting was planned to ease the tension between the two parties but Nitish called off his travel plans.
In May, Nitish skipped the Opposition’s luncheon organised by the Congress to devise a strategy for the presidential election but attended a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honour of visiting Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. Nitish openly praised the surgical strike conducted by the Indian Army on terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and even hailed Modi’s demonetisation move.
All the parties are carefully monitoring the situation but will the Congress’s move help in saving the Mahagathbandhan. Or will Nitish switch sides to stay away from controversies.
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