The Janata Dal (United) party presented Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the “hope of backwards, extremely backwards, minorities and unemployed youth” and urged larger parties in the INDIA bloc to “show a big heart” to ensure the alliance’s success. Kumar was elected president of the party on Friday.
The resolution passed at the JD(U) national council meeting asked the bloc to assign “any leader responsibilities as per experience and capability” and stated that there are few leaders as experienced as him in national politics, even though Kumar reiterated in his brief speech that he seeks no position and will work to strengthen the alliance.
Following the party’s national executive meeting, where Lalan Singh resigned as president and Kumar was elected in his stead, the national council meeting took place as the JD(U), whose political fortunes have been declining, prepared for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The election of Kumar was unanimously approved by the council. He and Singh both denounced the rumours of a split in the party, with Singh stating that it will stay united and never again form an alliance with the BJP.
Kumar’s decision to cut short Singh’s tenure as JD(U) president and take up the reins himself underlines the troubles besetting the party, which is feeling ignored within the INDIA bloc and battling intra-party differences, issues he is best suited to address, sources said. The Bihar chief minister was characteristically sober in his remarks after taking over the mantle but accused the BJP of “misleading” people and not delivering on its promises, including providing employment.
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He exhorted his party leaders to work unitedly and spread the word about the good work of the Bihar government in carrying out caste census, giving jobs and boosting the state’s development, sources said. Kumar was also authorised to take decisions in talks with INDIA bloc parties and all organisational matters. Replying to questions, JD(U) chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said the BJP is not an enemy as “there is no enemy in politics but only disagreements” but ruled out any alliance with the ruling party at the Centre.
Asked if JD(U) leaders will attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22, he said the party will consider the proposal if it gets an invitation and noted every party has accepted the Supreme Court verdict which paved the way for the temple’s construction. Amid disquiet among a section of party leaders over Kumar not being given any prominent position within the INDIA grouping, Tyagi said in an answer to a related question that the chief minister is the “convenor” and “prime minister” of the ideas guiding the opposition alliance.
He said Kumar took over as the party president because of his wide acceptability and that he is best placed in dealing with allies.
However, the political resolution adopted at the party has gone to extra lengths to highlight his leadership credentials and his ability to take everyone along even under adverse circumstances, in a clear pitch for a key formal role for him in the INDIA bloc. Describing him as an architect of the alliance, it said, “Nitish ji symbolises the hope of the backwards, extremely backwards, deprived, minorities and crores of unemployed youths.”
“The JD(U) believes that bigger parties in the alliance have more responsibilities… They will have to show a big heart to make this grand alliance successful. They will have to be generous if any leader has to be given the responsibility as per experience and capabilities,” it said. The bigger parties are a clear reference to the likes of the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, which have been cold so far to the idea of elevating Kumar within their alliance.
The JD(U) also accused the BJP of pitting ‘Sanatan’ against the Constitution while claiming that the central government was headed towards a “dictatorship”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “failed” in fulfilling his promise of giving employment to two crore youngsters while Kumar has given five lakh jobs and employment, which is a record, it claimed in its resolution.
The BJP is rattled as the INDIA bloc has a leader like Kumar, it added.
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The JD(U) said the Bihar government’s caste survey has brought the issue of a nationwide caste census to the centre stage with no party opposing it. Tyagi said even BJP allies and Union ministers like Pashupati Kumar Paras and Anupriya Patel have pitched for a caste census.
“Supporting the caste census has become a historic compulsion of the parties like the Congress or the BJP… It is a victory of our idea that the caste census has become such a big issue,” he said.
One of the four resolutions condemned the central government’s “dictatorial” attitude behind the suspension of 146 opposition MPs during Parliament’s winter session and also expressed concern at the security breach in Parliament.
As he announced his resignation, Singh put forth Kumar’s name, stating that while he would be preoccupied with winning his election, his leadership would be greatly needed at this pivotal point leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the Lok Sabha, he presently represents the Munger constituency.
According to sources, the majority of influential party leaders believed that Kumar, as the organization’s most well-known face, ought to lead it at this critical juncture. According to the sources, several party leaders have recently criticised Singh’s leadership style in their dealings with Kumar.
Amid reports of a rift within the party, the chief minister has worked to project a picture of unity by keeping him by his side. Kumar said in the executive meeting that he was not personally keen to take over as the party’s president but would abide by the decision.
Several enthusiastic members of the party raised slogans at the venue, projecting their leader as a prime ministerial candidate.
Source: PTI
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