Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Bihar politics is abuzz with speculation over the relationship between the BJP and the Janata Dal (United), particularly after the results of the recent Legislative Council elections. Meanwhile, birthday wishes to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav from three prominent JDU leaders have triggered fresh political discussions in the state.
JDU acting national president Sanjay Jha, Nishant Kumar and senior leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary wished Tejashwi on his birthday.
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However, no prominent BJP leader, including Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, extended a formal birthday greeting to the Leader of the Opposition.
Shortly after Sanjay Jha wished Tejashwi on his birthday, former BJP Bihar in-charge and MP Dharmendra Pradhan, who was also in Patna, visited Jha at his residence.
Pradhan was reportedly in the city to distribute invitation cards for his daughter’s wedding.
While birthday greetings are generally a matter of courtesy, political moves are often interpreted as carrying wider implications. This has prompted questions about whether the JDU was attempting to send a political message to its alliance partner, the BJP, by wishing Tejashwi.
The developments are being viewed against the backdrop of the recent Bihar Legislative Council elections.
Before the polls, all appeared to be well between the BJP and the JDU.
However, two Independent candidates, Rahul Raj and Banshidhar Brajwasi, defeated the JDU nominees. The two subsequently visited the BJP office and announced that they were joining the party in the presence of BJP leaders.
The BJP and the two leaders later clarified that they had not joined the party but had only expressed their support for it. The matter concerning the cancellation of the membership of the two elected Independent MLCs is pending before the Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council.
The move to bring the two newly elected Independent MLCs into its fold has reportedly caused resentment within the JDU. However, no party leader has openly criticised the BJP over the issue.
Even when the two defeated JDU candidates, Anand Pushkar and Abhishek Kumar Jha, recently announced a press conference on the matter, Sanjay Jha stopped them.
The JDU’s displeasure stems from the fact that Rahul Raj and Banshidhar Brajwasi had defeated its candidates in the elections, yet the BJP took the initiative to bring them closer to the party.
The episode raised questions about coordination within the alliance and adherence to coalition dharma.
Meanwhile, speculation is also rife about a major reshuffle in the JDU and the Bihar government. There is talk that the party could give Nishant Kumar a key responsibility to strengthen its political presence and organisation. He is also being tipped for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
As part of the speculation, there are discussions about replacing the two incumbent Deputy Chief Ministers, Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.
Such a move would position Nishant as the party’s second-most prominent leader in the government after Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary.
There is also speculation that Vijay Kumar Choudhary could be appointed the JDU’s national executive president, while the current acting national president, Sanjay Jha, could be inducted into the Modi government at the Centre as a minister.
However, there has been no official confirmation of any proposed reshuffle.
Any such changes would affect not only the state government’s Cabinet but also the JDU’s organisational structure and leadership.
The discussions about Nishant Kumar’s possible elevation as Deputy Chief Minister are being linked to his growing role in the party and preparations for leadership after Nitish Kumar.
The political equation between the BJP and the JDU has also changed in Bihar.
During Nitish Kumar’s tenure as Chief Minister, the JDU almost always played the role of the senior partner in the alliance. However, with Samrat Chaudhary now at the helm, the BJP has a greater share of power in the state than the JDU. The latter therefore faces the challenge of maintaining its political identity and organisational strength within the alliance.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
