Trouble for Rahul? Nitish Kumar elected JD(U) chief, set to take on PM Modi

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That is a long way, though. To start with, this development should worry Congress — which shares power with Nitish in Bihar — more than BJP. For, Nitish would be soon competing with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for a pivotal role against Modi. Ideally, Congress would have wanted him to confine himself to Bihar and support Rahul in his bid for prime ministership in future. In case Nitish is able to take off well by managing to enhance his own mass appeal and expand the party base, he may gain momentum at the expense of Rahul.

Nitish has many advantages. One, he enjoys a clean image. Two, he has a proven track record of governance. Three, he is popular among Muslims, besides OBCs. Four, he shares good personal equations with many regional leaders like West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Odisha CM and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, most of whom cannot go with Congress because of their own compulsions. He would be any day more acceptable to them than Rahul.

Nitish’s task for the immediate future is cut out. He has to secure the merger of at least Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) of Ajit Singh and the Apna Dal faction led by Krishna Patel, widow of Sone Lal Patel, if he wants to make a mark on the electoral scene in the 2017 UP polls. So far, the understanding between JD(U) and RLD has been to project Jayant Chaudhary, son of Ajit Singh, as CM candidate of the unified party in the UP polls and try getting Jat and Kurmi votes. A successful entry in UP with be the first touchstone for measuring expansion of the party.

The JD(U) is also engaged in merger talks with Jharkhand Vikas Morcha leader Babulal Marandi. It would be a shot in the arm for Nitish if the merger happens. Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala was very enthused for a merger when Sharad Yadav had initiated a move for unifying six parties sharing the legacy of Ram Manohar Lohia and Charan Singh last year. It fell through because SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav backed out. Nitish can still get Chautala on board and stretch the JD(U) profile.

All of it is not easy, but Nitish has to get going if he has to fulfill his bigger ambitions. He has taken the plunge today and he would be watched very keenly by both his rivals and allies hence.

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