BackNitish Kumar rides on Congress support
Bihar trust vote triggers speculation that it could be the start of the end for Congress-RJD alliance
Premium(Hindustan Times)
New Delhi: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), government won a trust vote in the state legislative assembly on Wednesday after parting ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the vote triggering speculation that it could be the beginning of the end for another alliance—between the Congress and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
The Congress extended its support to Kumar in the trust vote, which officially confirmed the BJP’s emergence as the main opposition in Bihar after the JD(U) exited the 17-year alliance with the party. The vote took place after BJP members staged a walkout.
Neither the Congress nor the JD(U) have given any indication that they would enter into an electoral understanding before next year’s Lok Sabha polls. But political analysts said the Congress’s decision to support Kumar’s government signalled that the party, which leads the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre, was more likely to opt for a partnership with the JD(U) rather than the RJD.
“Congress would any day prefer an alliance with Nitish Kumar as he is more dependable and has proved his dependability through his 17-year association with the BJP," said Mumbai-based political analyst Jai Mrug. “JD(U)’s biggest positive factor would be its dependability, whereas Lalu Prasad refused to negotiate seat allocation with the Congress in 2009 despite being a part of the UPA."
The JD(U) government got 126 votes in its favour, four more than the halfway mark of 122, in the trust vote necessitated by the split with the BJP. The break-up took place after the BJP named Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the head of its campaign committee for the 2014 general election. The JD(U) expressed its displeasure at the role being given to Modi, seen as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
Twenty-four votes were cast against the motion seeking the trust vote.
“I thank the Congress that they have voted in the favour of our trust vote," Kumar told reporters after the vote. “However, if you ask me if any further talks are on, no it is not," he said, when asked whether his party was in talks with the Congress for any future ties.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday called Kumar “secular" even as the Congress party indicated that it was always for a coalition of “like-minded" and “secular" parties.
The RJD, however, is optimistic that the development would not affect its alliance with the Congress. “We had not discussed it together. It was their independent stance. We are hopeful that it will not affect our alliance," said Abdul Bari Siddiqui, leader of the RJD in the state assembly.
BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi remarked, “Having been a symbol of anti-Congressism all his life, the chief minister has suddenly found love for Congress... The day is not far off when JD(U) leaders, including the chief minister, will start singing paeans for (Congress vice-president) Rahul Gandhi and raise slogans for making him prime minister."
In the 243-seat assembly, the JD(U) has 115 members and the BJP 91. Among the opposition parties, the RJD has 22 members, the Congress four and the Lok Janshakti Party three. There are six independents in the assembly.
BJP members walked out of the assembly soon after the day’s proceedings started, claiming that Kumar had betrayed the mandate of the National Democratic Alliance.
“Why did this condition come? Why did we have to take this decision (of parting ways)? It has become clear today," Kumar said in a speech that lasted more than half an hour.
The Congress party said it had voted in favour of the JD(U) to “keep away" communal forces.
“Yes, we have supported Nitish Kumar’s trust vote. We do not want communal forces to succeed," P.C. Chacko, Congress spokesperson, told reporters in the national capital. “We unilaterally decided to support the government. There is no quid pro quo, there is no deal."
Kumar has kept his options open on the formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP political front. After Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called for a “federal front", Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and Kumar had responded favourably.
Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s move to back Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja’s candidature in the Rajya Sabha election from the state, withdrawing her All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate at the last minute, has also given hope to leaders optimistic about an alternative force.
Jayalalithaa was one of the first chief ministers who indicated support to the BJP’s new political face and Gujarat chief minister Modi. Meanwhile, the CPI’s lone member in the Bihar assembly also backed Kumar in Wednesday’s trust vote.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
