The index of Opposition unity was on display in Bihar on Friday as Nitish Kumar’s return as Chief Minister of Bihar was followed by his public acknowledgement of support from political players as diverse as the Shiv Sena, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Trinamool Congress.
By the end of an eventful day in Patna, the BJP only had a beleaguered Jitan Ram Manjhi on its side. And he could not even muster enough legislators to face the trust vote on the floor of the Assembly for which the BJP had pledged its support.
Failing to enlist the support of an adequate number of legislators, Manjhi resigned as Chief Minister before the Assembly convened for the Budget session on Friday morning.
His resignation was followed by Nitish, the leader of the 110-member strong Janata Dal (United) legislature party, staking claim to form the government. He will be sworn in as Chief Minister on Sunday, February 22. Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has asked him to prove his majority by March 16.
Says sorry Immediately after he met the Governor, Nitish did a bit of Arvind Kejriwal, apologising for resigning as CM following the party’s abysmal performance in the Lok Sabha election last year.
“With folded hands, I apologise to the people of Bihar. Never again will I take a step like this. I am ready to lead from the front,” he said.
The Chief Minister-designate then thanked all political players who had supported him while the BJP openly backed Manjhi, a Mahadalit leader whom the JD(U) had hand-picked to replace Nitish when he resigned from the Chief Minister’s post.
“Top leaders of different parties across the country had supported me because they shared our anxiety that the BJP planned to impose President’s rule in Bihar. They (the BJP) are conceited. They tried to break our party. They promoted all sorts of unethical moves,” he said.
“I thank West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP leader Ms Mayawati and Shiv Sena for their support.
“I am also grateful to all the JD(U) MLAs who stood by me despite all efforts to break them away.”
Nitish had broken the JD(U)’s alliance with the BJP after the latter projected Narendra Modi as prime ministerial candidate in 2013.
But the JD(U) suffered because of this decision, securing only two seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Nitish took moral responsibility for this debacle and resigned, appointing Manjhi in his stead. The JD(U) subsequently sacked Manjhi from the party, accusing him of hobnobbing with the BJP.
While the BJP accused Nitish and the JD(U) of “persecuting” a Mahadalit, Mayawati significantly came out in his support.
This is the first time the BSP supremo has publicly spoken in favour of the larger opposition alliance being formed by Nitish and the three Yadavs — Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav and her arch enemy Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Mayawati hit out at the BJP for playing games “behind the curtains, to grab power” in Bihar. “By supporting ‘Mahadalit’ Jitan Ram Manjhi, BJP tried to keep Nitish Kumar away from power by using all the tactics.
“Due to this, Bihar had to face a political crisis and instability. This has not only adversely affected the social and political atmosphere of the State but also sent a wrong message across the country,” she said.
Mayawati further said the BJP has never acted in the interest of the Dalit community.
“They should have initiated the process for filling the vacant posts in various Central government departments for the Dalit community if they were their true well-wishers. But they have neither made such an announcement nor shown any initiative for the same,” she said.
Horse-trading Holding the Modi government and the Governor’s office in Bihar responsible for alleged horse-trading in the State, Mayawati said: “The game of purchasing legislators and promising them ministerial berths was played only because of them”.
Before Maywati, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had supported Nitish while NDA ally Shiv Sena had described the BJP’s support to Manjhi as a “sin”.