The alliance between the JD(U) and RJD would eventually take shape sooner or later even though no high-level talks between the top leaders of the two parties, which came closer post-crushing defeat in the 2014 general elections, is going to take place soon. The indication for the talks was given by RJD supremo lalu Prasad who said that all the issues would be sorted out when the leaders would sit together. But he also told one and all that each one should be ready for sacrifice.
After lalu’s comments on seat sharing and leadership issue, the leaders of the RJD are vouching for a united fight against the BJP under the collective leadership. “It can be Nitish, it can be lalu and it can be a third person,” commented RJD vice-president Raghubansh Prasad Singh. Samajwadi Party leader and UP Minister Shivpal Yadav said the merger of the Janata Parivar would definitely take shape. “The process is going on under the leadership of Netaji (Mulayam Suingh Yadav) and soon positive results would come out,” said Mulayam’s younger brother who was here in connection with an official meeting on Thursday.
The RJD leaders are hopeful that like AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, lalu too could be exonerated of the charges of corruption for which he was convicted by a CBI court. If he is acquitted he could be a claimant for the top post. This could be a possible reason that lalu is not readying to commit on the name of Nitish. RJD leader Singh said, “like Jayalalithaa, lalu too can return as CM.”
During the high-level meeting between lalu and Nitish to sort out the alliance issues, sources said, the RJD might raise the question as to what should be the main objective of the alliance – stopping BJP or making Nitish CMIJ The RJD leaders plead that the leadership issue could be solved after elections but the priority is to halt the surge of the BJP in Assembly elections. With the leadership issue unlikely to be solved easily, there is growing possibility that after the alliance the two parties would stop short of projecting anyone as CM face.
The leadership problem has not only gripped the RJD-JD(U) alliance but also the BJP-led NDA. The two main partners and their allies are likely to jump into poll arena without their declared captains. The internal bickering apart from the apprehension of adverse impact on their respective vote banks is restraining the parties from making public names of their leaders.
In Bihar for the past quarter century the leader had been projected before the polls. In 1990, though lalu was not a declared leader, it was almost known that he would be the CM. In 1995, lalu and in 2000 and 2005 elections, Rabri Devi, were the faces while in 2005 and 2010, Nitish Kumar was the face of the NDA. It would be quite interesting that most of the top leaders of the BJP, JD(U) and RJD, which are perceived to be chief ministerial candidates, are unlikely to contest Assembly election.