Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in hopes of becoming the prime ministerial candidate for the INDIA bloc has backfired, according to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sushil Kumar Modi. In a scathing dig at Kumar, Modi mocked him for accepting a jhunjhuna role as a convenor, which he described as a mere Munshi-type role within the bloc.
Modi accused Kumar of blackmailing his way into the position of convener, believing that he would secure the prime ministerial candidacy. However, he was ultimately disappointed when he was given a much lesser role. Modi questioned Kumar’s capability as convener, citing his inability to bring about consensus among leaders of opposition parties such as Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh regarding seat-sharing arrangements.
Furthermore, Modi challenged Kumar’s ability to bridge the divide between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Mamata Banerjee, who has a significant majority in Bengal. He also questioned whether Kumar could foster consensus between Akhilesh Yadav and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. Modi concluded that Kumar had gotten what he deserved after repeatedly threatening the alliance with the INDIA bloc over the past month.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also took a swipe at Kumar, dismissing the significance of his new role as convenor. Hussain highlighted the ongoing conflicts between Kumar’s party, Janata Dal United (JDU), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, as well as the rift between the RJD, JDU, and Congress. He stated that Kumar had harbored dreams of being chosen as the prime ministerial face of the opposition after leaving the BJP. However, Hussain emphasized the established public mandate for Narendra Modi to continue as prime minister, confidently predicting the BJP’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, with Modi surpassing the 400-seat mark.
In conclusion, Nitish Kumar’s aspirations of becoming the prime ministerial candidate for the INDIA bloc have seemingly been dashed, leaving him with a lesser convenor role. Sushil Kumar Modi and Shahnawaz Hussain have both criticized Kumar’s expectations and questioned his ability to bring about consensus among opposition leaders. Meanwhile, the BJP remains confident in Narendra Modi’s leadership and anticipates a triumph in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
