BJP reaches out to Nitish, but the JD(U) leader  keeps everyone guessing about his next move

The NDA in Bihar is beset with serious problems. One of its allies, Vikassheel Inssan Party, (VIP), led by the so-called son of mallah Mukesh Sahni, is out of the alliance after the BJP poached its three MLAs and persuaded the Chief Minister to sack Sahni from the cabinet. Sahni played a big role in ensuring the defeat of the BJP candidate in the prestigious Bochahan assembly by-polls. Its second ally, the Hindustani Awam Morcha is giving the BJP headache by the day. HAM supremo and former chief minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi has serious differences with the ideology and beliefs of the Saffron outfit. Manjhi misses no chance in taking pot-shots at Lord Ram and his followers, saying “Ram was not a God and those who want to worship him are free to do so, but I’ll never do so.”

Then came the third and most important ally, the Janata Dal (U). The BJP and JD(U) leaders have frequently attacked each other during the past few weeks. While JD(U) leaders have said the continuation of Nitish Kumar as the chief minister was the pre-condition for the existence of the NDA, the BJP state unit has given mixed signals and the Central leadership remained silent on speculations that the saffron party wants  Nitish to vacate the CM’s chair for a BJP nominee. Nitish Kumar’s presence at an Iftar party hosted by RJD leader  Rabri Devi and his decision to vacate the CM’s residence at 1 Anne Marg have rightly given grist to the rumor mills. As  YouTubers started predicting an imminent divorce between the JD(U) and BJP, Nitish sprang another surprise by driving to Patna airport to receive Home Minister Amit Shah, who was on his way to Jagdishpur to attend a party function to commemorate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Veer Kunwar Singh.  Needless to say that the political developments of the past few weeks have completely derailed Bihar’s administration. At this juncture, BJP reached out to Nitish when his former deputy  Sushil Kumar Modi on Monday came out with a series of tweets, stressing that there was no question of any change of guards in Bihar and such talks have harmed the NDA. However, with poll strategist Prashant Kishor reportedly engaged in wooing Kumar to the Opposition camp, it’s not clear whether Sushil Modi’s categorical

announcement will close the debate on Nitish Kumar’s future move.