Was Nitish upset with alliance name ‘INDIA’? Bihar CM’s hasty exit after Oppn meet sparks murmurs

Nitish left Bengaluru without addressing press conference held after meeting of 26 Oppn parties owing to bad air traffic, say JD(U) leaders. BJP says he was ‘ignored and insulted’.

Patna: The Janata Dal (United) has dismissed speculation over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar being upset after attending the two-day conclave of 26 “progressive parties” in Bengaluru, where he is said to have initially expressed reservations about the proposed name for the alliance — the ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ or ‘INDIA’.

Nitish’s absence Tuesday from the press conference, that followed the meeting and was attended by most opposition leaders part of the grouping, added grist to the speculation that the eight-time chief minister was upset.

Speaking at a meeting of government officials in Rajgir Wednesday, Nitish said when asked why he left early, “Every thing was discussed and agreed upon. And so I left.”

JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, meanwhile, told reporters Wednesday when asked about whether Nitish was upset, “Why would he be upset? Nitish Kumar is the sutradhar (facilitator) of opposition unity. The foundation he laid in Patna (by hosting the first meeting of opposition parties on 23 June) was strengthened in Bengaluru.”

“I have been in the NDA (BJP-led National Democratic Alliance) for five years. The BJP never held a meeting. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been forced to hold a meeting of the NDA, even inviting small parties from the Northeast,” Singh added.

JD(U) sources, on the other hand, claimed that Nitish, Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav could not attend the press conference addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge owing to air traffic arrangements.

“Bengaluru has heavy air traffic and there were eight chartered planes (scheduled to take off) because of the meeting,” a senior JD(U) leader told ThePrint on condition of anonymity, adding that airport authorities had advised Nitish to reach the airport by 4 pm or else their chartered flight would be slotted for a take off only after 9.30 pm later that day.

The leader added that the initial understanding was that Kharge would be the only opposition leader to address the press conference. “It was decided later that all leaders present would address the press. By that time, Nitish ji and the others had left. Even in the meeting held in Patna on 23 June, leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal could not attend the press conference that followed owing to air traffic issues,” the leader said.

Sources in the JD(U) also told ThePrint that Nitish Kumar did not approve of the name decided upon for the alliance — ‘INDIA’.

“Nitish ji wanted a name that would click in the Hindi heartland as the Opposition is strong in southern India and the BJP had to be defeated in the north. He said INDIA sounded too much like NDA. But M.K. Stalin and Mamata Banerjee approved and Nitish ji went along,” said the JD(U) leader quoted earlier.

He added that differences of opinion are bound to arise when leaders from different backgrounds come together.

“Kejriwal did not approve of a caste census but went along with others to pass a unanimous resolution over the issue. One has to make compromises. So did Nitish ji,” he said.

Another factor that fuelled speculation about Nitish being upset was that many JD(U) leaders had in the run-up to the meeting in Bengaluru expressed optimism about him being appointed convener of the alliance. However, a decision in this regard will was postponed and will now be made in the next meeting of the ‘INDIA’ to be held in Mumbai. 

JD(U) sources also said that being appointed convener is essential to Nitish’s national ambitions and to pave the way for Tejashwi’s elevation as chief minister.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took the opportunity to take potshots at Nitish, with its Bihar unit chief Samrat Choudhary taunting the JD(U) chief by saying, “Nitish went to Bengaluru expecting the post of convenor (of alliance). He was ignored and insulted. He ran away and back to Patna.”

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told ThePrint, “The Congress appears to have hijacked Nitish Kumar’s agenda and are reluctant to give him the post (of convener). The very fact that posters against Nitish were allowed to be put up in a state ruled by the Congress was humiliating for him.”

The remarks were a reference to posters that sprung up in Bengaluru Monday, labelling Nitish as the “unstable Prime Ministerial contender”.

In Bihar, opposition to the Nitish-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) is taking shape ahead of the general election next year with Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and both factions of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) now part of the BJP-led NDA.

Sources in the Bihar BJP said the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) of Mukesh Sahani is the only NDA partner from the state not on board with the terms agreed upon by others owing to its demand for a disproportionate number of seats. They, however, added that it was “only a matter of time before he falls in line”.