After breaking up relations with the BJP four years before, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called him ” stupid ” to ally with them in 2017. He has also emphasized that as long as Janata Dal-United (JDU) is in power, there would be “no compromise” with the BJP.
A month after breaking with the BJP to create a new coalition with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, he addressed party officials at the JDU’s national acouncil meeting in Patna yesterday.
Following a 2013 break with the BJP, Mr. Kumar claimed it was a “mistake” to again ally with them. We were successful when we quit the NDA in 2013. Next, in 2017, we created one.
In 2013, Mr. Kumar broke off his coalition with the BJP when it named Narendra Modi as its candidate for prime minister in the next Lok Sabha elections. The JDU, RJD, and Congress coalition won handily in the 2015 elections in Bihar.
Two years later, after Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister at the time, refused to resign in the light of corruption allegations, Nitish Kumar left the coalition. The second time he tied up with the BJP, he received harsh criticism for the somersault.
Without mentioning Tejashwi Yadav, his deputy in the new cabinet, Mr. Kumar also explained his choice to work with the BJP during yesterday’s top JDU meeting. The Bihar chief minister carefully considered his remarks before saying, “The reason was that our suggestions were not being heard. No one was listening, so I was upset. On the other side (BJP) they tried hard. And I eventually agreed.”
Mr. Kumar called the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying, “We were in his government. We were well respected. We thus responded, “We are out,” when these folks arrived. Then they persisted in pressing, and continuing to follow them was foolish. Later, we realized how they were attempting to ruin our celebration,” he claimed.
“We won’t make another compromise with them as long as our party is in existence. Never. The issue is not raised,” Mr. Kumar continued.
In the most recent turnabout, Mr. Kumar has also been advocating for a national role. Nevertheless, he has made it clear that he has no desire to become prime minister.
“These guys can be beaten if the opposition comes together. Soon, I’ll be traveling to Delhi, where will visit not just those with us but others too,” he said.
In a jocular tone, Mr. Kumar stated, “You may see that I’m always grinning these days since I received “Mukti” (freedom) from them. Now, let’s move the nation forward as a team. You appear joyful as well and are grinning.”
He continued, we shall liberate ourselves from those attempting to take over and ruin the nation.
Additionally, he criticized the center for consistently claiming credit for all welfare initiatives. Mr. Kumar urged party officials to intensify the JDU’s recruitment campaign and sign up as many individuals as possible.
