Bihar CM Nitish takes a dig at dynasts Rahul, Tejashwi, defends decision to join hands with BJP

It has been more than 10 months since Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) supremo and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar switched sides to ‘abandon' his old allies--the Congress and the RJD.

Patna, June 6: It has been more than 10 months since Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) supremo and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar switched sides to 'abandon' his old allies--the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)--to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

All these months, often the RJD and the Congress have criticised the Bihar CM for dishonouring the mandate of the people (as the JD(U), the RJD and the Congress won the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections together) to run an "opportunistic" government with the "communal and divisive" BJP.

Most often Kumar ignored the barbs of his friends-turned-foes, but on Tuesday in Patna, the Bihar CM spoke at length on various issues, including the party's latest defeat at the hands of the RJD in the Jokihat by-poll. The Jokihat debacle is the third continuous defeat of the JD(U) at the hands of the RJD since the "bitter divorce" happened last year. The JD(U) had lost the last two by-polls in Jehanabad and Araria.

While it is clear that things are pretty bad between the JD(U) and its former alliance partners in the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), there have been a lot of murmurs about the tensions between the BJP and the JD(U) too.

However, both the parties have denied the reports as "fabricated" ones. Reports say the relationship between the JD(U) and the BJP is experiencing turbulence as the latter is trying to rein in the CM who always loves to be the boss. Thereafter, the communal riots in Bihar a few months ago also strained the relationship between the coalition partners.

In spite of all these ups and downs which Nitish witnessed in the last few months, he has managed to put up a brave face, especially after a united Opposition is challenging the might of the BJP.

On Tuesday, Nitish decided to take a direct dig at dynasts (children of political families who have joined politics) who are a part of the political system by virtue of their birth. As Nitish criticised political families in the country, it was pretty much clear whom his rants were directed towards.

The Bihar CM, who did not take any name, was clearly referring to his former deputy chief minister and son of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

"Today, youths do not want to enter into the field of politics with their own capabilities. These days, people are coming in and getting ahead in politics because of their families," Nitish was quoted as saying by ANI. Slamming his critics for questioning his governance, Nitish said that he and his cabinet colleagues are doing work for the public.

"People are asking me to say about the current situation prevailing in Bihar. I don't know what they want to hear. I always keep on saying things to make this democracy stronger. We have been doing work for the public," he added.

Talking about the Jokihat by-poll defeat, Nitish said he did not ask for votes. "In Jokihat, I did not even ask for votes... I told people that my work is before you. If you want to vote on work then please vote for Janata Dal (United)," he said.

"Who you voted to, I don't have anything to do with it... It is your wish... We worked and will keep on working. But tell me, where did we compromise (with your interests)?" the CM asked.

In the last few days, the talks are on about who would be the "face" of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. While the JD(U), which had joined the NDA government last year, wants Nitish to represent the NDA in the state, the BJP is yet to make an official statement in this regard.