Will Nitish Kumar make a comeback? Congress extends offer
Former Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh has invited Nitish Kumar to join Congress.
Following the announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in all BJP and NDA-ruled states, the Congress and RJD-led Grand Alliance in Bihar has taken this as an opportunity to invite JD(U) president and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to join the opposition alliance. Former Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh has offered Nitish Kumar to come together with Congress.
Recently, RJD leader and MLA Bhai Virendra had proposed that Nitish Kumar return to the Grand Alliance. He stated that both RJD and JD(U) believe in socialist politics. Following this, former Bihar Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh also extended an invitation to Nitish Kumar to join the Grand Alliance.
In a conversation with journalists, Akhilesh Prasad Singh claimed that,
“Everything is not right in the ruling NDA. Nitish Kumar has always adhered to socialist ideology. Therefore, it is natural for him to feel uncomfortable with the agenda that the BJP is trying to implement.”
In fact, everything is not right in Bihar's NDA government. This claim has been made by Bihar Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Akhilesh Prasad Singh. On Friday, Akhilesh Singh was speaking to journalists, during which he answered several questions and also extended an offer to Nitish Kumar to join the Grand Alliance. Congress leader and MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said,
“Nitish Kumar has always followed socialist ideology. It is natural for him to feel uncomfortable with the kind of agenda the BJP is setting. I don’t know under what circumstances he went that way. His real place is in socialism. As discomfort increases, he will have to move away.”
The Congress MP remarked about Nitish Kumar,
“He should definitely come with the Grand Alliance. The natural alliance is right here.”
In fact, Akhilesh Prasad Singh was asked about the pressure being exerted by JD(U) on the BJP regarding the Farakka water treaty. There are differences between JD(U) and BJP on the UCC. Is there a threat of a split in the NDA? On such questions, Akhilesh Prasad Singh invited Nitish Kumar to come with Congress. It is noteworthy that,
“Before Congress, RJD MLA Bhai Virendra had offered JD(U) to form the government. Now Congress's agreement has also been received. However, JD(U) has to take a stand on this, but such statements have definitely increased the tension for the BJP and Bihar CM Samrat Chaudhary.”
It is significant that there is currently intense political turmoil regarding the Uniform Civil Code ((UCC)) in Bihar. Differences within the NDA have also become clearly visible. Questions are also being raised about whether everything is alright in JD(U).
“Within the party, there are differing opinions among senior leaders regarding the UCC. Some leaders have clearly stated that the UCC will not be implemented in Bihar, while others say that the party will first study the provisions of the bill and then decide its stand.”
Meanwhile, a major meeting of JD(U) was also held in Patna, attended by all MPs, MLAs, and MLCs. This was a training program for the legislators. However, sources indicate that during this training program, senior party leaders discussed the UCC with the party's working president Sanjay Jha and emphasized the need for the party to clarify its stand.
It is noteworthy that a few days ago, senior JD(U) leader and party's national general secretary Shyam Rajak stated that the UCC will not be implemented in Bihar. Bihar's minority minister from JD(U), Jama Khan, stated that no decision will be made that sends a wrong message to any community.
Minister Jama Khan said,
“Nitish Kumar's previous stand is that the UCC will not be implemented in Bihar. Now, what the party's stance on UCC will be is something that Nitish Kumar will decide. No decision will be made that harms Bihar, creates controversy, or sends a wrong message to any particular community. We move forward with all religions.”
Senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Chaudhary stated that,
“The party will first study the issue before taking any stand. He also mentioned that we will not oppose it without any reason. So far, there has not been uniformity in the statements of the party's senior leaders on this issue.”
“Meanwhile, an old letter from Nitish Kumar has gone viral. In 2017, while serving as CM, Nitish Kumar wrote this letter. In the letter addressed to the chairman of the Law Commission, he advocated against the forced implementation of the UCC.”
There is a growing discussion in Bihar's political corridors that after Nitish Kumar's move to the Rajya Sabha, his activity in the party has decreased, and factionalism within the party has increased. MLA Anant Singh from Mokama has opened a front against his own party leader Neeraj Kumar. Anant Singh and Neeraj Kumar are at odds. Bihar is facing MLC elections, and Neeraj Kumar is also in the race to become an MLC. However, Anant Singh has made it clear that he will not allow Neeraj Kumar to become an MLC at any cost.
“There is also discussion about the lack of coordination between Union Minister Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha. A faction of JD(U) believes that Sanjay Jha is directly controlled by Amit Shah and makes decisions based on his directives. However, party leaders dismiss this, but the activities of both support this notion. On one hand, Sanjay Jha is aggressive on the issue of the Farakka water treaty, holding meetings in various districts of Bihar. On the other hand, Lalan Singh remains completely silent on this issue. He makes statements on floods but remains entirely quiet on this major campaign of JD(U).”
However, officially, no controversy has been reported within the party. In JD(U)'s meetings, a message of unity is repeatedly conveyed by stating the need to move forward with Nitish Kumar's ideology.
“But the big question is whether Nitish Kumar has completely forgotten the ideology or has he surrendered to the BJP. If he truly feels uncomfortable with the BJP or if there is any split within the party on the issue of UCC, it is possible that he may once again turn back and join his natural alliance.”