In Bihar, an interesting phase of allegations and counter-allegations between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav continue. While Nitish Kumar is once again coming in his old form, Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi are fed up. Along with targeting Nitish Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar’s voters are also reminded of Bihar before 2005.
But amid the battle of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, a statement by Prashant Kishore has completely hot the politics of Bihar. Prashant Kishore, who is preparing to contest all the 243 assembly seats in Bihar under the banner of Jan Suraj Party, has created a sensation by making a sensation that Nitish Kumar will contest the assembly elections with the BJP but after the results he can change his face again. Prashant Kishore also raised many serious questions on Nitish Kumar’s health while reiterating many of his old statements.
Also read: So will Nishant Kumar’s political launch strengthen dynastic democracy?
BJP strategists also have a good idea of Nitish Kumar’s political style. Therefore, the party’s strategists have already made their strategy keeping this in mind. It is being told that this time the BJP is preparing to contest elections in the role of elder brother in Bihar assembly elections. In the last assembly election held in the year 2020, there was a distribution of seats on the 122-121 formula between JDU and BJP in the NDA alliance. Out of the 122 seats received by JDU, Nitish Kumar had fielded his candidates on 115 and gave 7 seats to Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party. At the same time, the BJP had fielded its candidates on 110 out of 121 seats of its quota and gave 11 seats to Mukesh Sahni’s party VIP. The BJP, which contested 110 seats in the last assembly election, won 74 seats. Whereas despite contesting elections in more than BJP, Nitish Kumar’s party was able to win only 43 seats.
This time the BJP has prepared a strategy to contest more seats than JDU in Bihar. Under this strategy, the BJP has prepared a new formula of 139-104 bypassing the formula of 122-121 for the last assembly election. According to this formula, Nitish Kumar’s party, who fought 115 seats in the 2020 assembly elections, will have to be satisfied in only 104 seats this time. The BJP is preparing to keep 139 seats in its quota under this formula. Top BJP leaders have also made it clear that the party will give seats to other parties involved in the coalition from its quota, telling Nitish Kumar about this formula.
It is being told that out of its quota of 139 seats, BJP will give 20 seats to Chirag Paswan’s party and 7-7 seats will give Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha’s party. The BJP will field its candidates for the remaining 105 seats. Accordingly, BJP will contest elections on one seat more than Nitish Kumar’s party and will not only contest in the role of elder brother in Bihar NDA coalition, but will also maintain its interference in the selection of candidates of Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha. The BJP will try its best to perform 122 seats required for the majority by performing brilliantly on its quota seats of 139. If the party succeeds in its strategy, then Nitish Kumar’s political ability to negotiate. The BJP will comfortably make its Chief Minister in Bihar with the help of Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha.
One thing about Bihar’s politics is clear like a glass that from Nitish Kumar to Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi, from Chirag Paswan to BJP, all are aware of each other’s intention. Everyone is waiting for a better opportunity and only the results of Bihar assembly elections will tell who will be with whom and whose government will be formed in the state?
-Coster Readers
(The author is a senior journalist and columnist.)