August 30 is going to be a historic day in the modern political history of Bihar. It is likely to script a new preface of political future of the State. That day, two old comrades, whose friendly and unfriendly ties saw many ups and downs in the past quarter century, will be seen rubbing shoulders at a pre-poll rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan here. Incidentally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a rally in Bhagalpur two days later on September 1 and may make some big announcement.
Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and former Chief Minister and RJD supremo lalu Prasad will share the dais possibly for the first time at a public meeting christened as Swabhiman Rally even though they jointly held a couple of electoral meetings exactly a year ago during the by-elections.
PM Modi is likely to reply to the barrage of accusations on him and the BJP from his Parivartan rally in Bhagalpur, his fourth in Bihar in 37 days. Checkmated by Modi in May 2014, the two regional satraps have buried hatchets and closed ranks to take on their common enemy. “It is a well known fact that Bihar in the last 25 years has produced two mass leaders: lalu and Nitish and today the entire political process revolves around them,” said JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar and added that their towering personalities made all other politicians pygmies.
The two allies are pulling all stops to make the Swabhiman Rally a big success while the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to turn saffron the communally sensitive silk city of Bhagalpur with its Parivartan Rally. Much before the Assembly election is formally declared, the two rival alliances have already made it a fierce battle between NaMo and Nitish.
Nitish is the declared face of Chief Minister of the JD(U), RJD and Congress alliance but the BJP-led NDA is unlikely to reveal its CM candidate. The declaration by the two alliances that they would fight election in the name of development notwithstanding, the rivals are busy raking up other issues like Jungle Raj and PM’s DNA remarks as poll planks to impress their supporters.
Asking the people to fill not only Gandhi Maidan but entire Patna, lalu said, “We will sound the bugle of Mahabharat on August 30.” Nitish added, “A huge crowd would demonstrate the Swabhiman (pride) of Bihar.”
Countering the duo, Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said the NDA would contest polls on development plank and not on Mandal or Kamandal. “A current of Parivartan (change) is sweeping Bihar and even Barack Obama or Nawaz Sharif cannot stop it,” said Sushil Modi at a meeting.
BJP sources are hinting that PM Modi may announce a special package for Bihar at either his August 18 rally at Saharsa or in Bhagalpur on September 1. The PM too had hinted at his Muzaffarpur rally on July 25 that he was not in a position to make any package announcement since Parliament was in session and would declare it at an appropriate time. It is expected that Modi may announce the package in Bhagalpur in a strong reply to lalu-Nitish rally and silence his opponents.