By Nishindra Kinjalk
Patna: Major political parties in Bihar appear determined to crush smaller outfits as the state gears up for assembly elections. The mood this time, observers say, is one of “enough is enough.”
Rahul Gandhi has yet to name a chief ministerial face for the Mahagathbandhan alliance, even as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) remains its dominant partner and Tejashwi Yadav its clear leader. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is reportedly keeping close tabs on potential rivals to ensure his son’s leadership remains unchallenged.
Tej Pratap Yadav, Tejashwi’s elder brother, has been sidelined and is contesting independently after forming his own party. Similarly, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) leader Mukesh Sahni has found himself without support from either the RJD or the Congress. Despite reports of his outreach to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the NDA has already finalized its seat allocations, leaving no space for Sahni’s outfit.
Political analysts in Patna suggest that Gandhi may also be pursuing a long game against RJD itself, pointing to the Congress’s past maneuvers in Delhi, where its weak positioning helped the BJP secure power after the fall of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Observers recall the 2013 Supreme Court verdict in Lily Thomas vs. Union of India, which struck down Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act. Rahul Gandhi famously denounced and tore up the UPA’s ordinance meant to overturn that ruling — a move that indirectly ended Lalu Prasad’s parliamentary career.
Meanwhile, all is not well within the NDA either. Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has fielded family members on several seats, while Rashtriya Lok Morcha leader Upendra Kushwaha has nominated his wife, Snehlata Kushwaha, from Sasaram. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has also reportedly irked both the BJP and JD(U), prompting sharp exchanges behind closed doors.
At a “Panchayat Aaj Tak Bihar” conclave, Amit Shah affirmed that the NDA was contesting the polls under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership. But when asked if Kumar would continue as chief minister post-election, Shah said the decision would rest with elected MLAs — a remark that unsettled JD(U) ranks and reignited talk of another possible Lalu-Nitish rapprochement.
