Bihar crisis will cause more erosion in JD(U): Sankarshan Thakur tells Oneindia

Bengaluru, Feb 9: The Bihar crisis is nothing but a power struggle and also marks the launch of the election campaign. There are allegations that Jitendra Manjhi is being remote controlled by the BJP to ensure that a power transfer does not take place smoothly.

To discuss the crisis, oneindia caught up Sankarshan Thakur, the author of Subaltern Saheb, a political biography of Laloo Yadav. Sankarshan Thakur who is the The Telegraph‘s Delhi-based Roving Editor is also the author of Single Man: The Life and Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar.

In this interview Thakur speaks about the Bihar power struggle and also what would be the outcome of the same.

Oneindia: What are your views on the Bihar power struggle today?

Sankarshan Thakur: It is a power struggle. It is also the formal launch of the election campaign. Manjhi is actively aided by the Bharatiya Janata Party. What they are trying to create is a situation for horse trading.

Oneindia: Do you seen this move by Nitish Kumar to take over as a sudden one?

Sankarshan Thakur: I don't see it as a sudden move at all. When Manjhi was made the chief minister of Bihar, there was a resolution which stated that the next elections will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar.

Moreover, Nitish Kumar found that the government was drifting. Manjhi had made several controversial remarks which did not go down too well with the party leadership.

He was also accused of not taking calls of senior leaders which irked the party leaders further. The JD(U) felt that Nitish Kumar was more capable and suited for the job.

Oneindia: Does this crisis help the BJP?

Sankarshan Thakur: Yes it does to a certain extent. The crisis has ensured that there are further erosions within the JD(U). Moreover, Manjhi is a Mahadalit and one would expect that there will be further erosions in that base as well.

However, it would be hard to say what would be the final outcome of all this. How it all plays out is too early to tell.

Oneindia: What do you see happening next?

Sankarshan Thakur: A lot would depend on the Governor of Bihar and the action he would take. Manjhi will try and delay the process. Manjhi has been expelled from the party. He has sought time for the trust vote.

All these factors could cause some more delay, but a lot would depend on how the Governor acts on this situation and how long it would take.

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