As Nitish Kumar lands in Delhi ahead of result day, JD(U) demands early state polls

The party’s national spokesperson and former Rajya Sabha MP, K C Tyagi, told The Indian Express: “Let us make it clear that CM Nitish Kumar’s meeting with PM was just a courtesy call. The CM had come to Delhi for his routine eye check-up and had sought time with PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”

About the call for early elections, sources in the CM house and the JD(U) said the party felt it would serve it well to hold elections along with Jharkhand late this year – instead of next year when it is due – if the results are favourable for the NDA in the Lok Sabha polls, as indicated by the exit polls. The JD(U) has been on the decline in the state, and fears losing ground further if the momentum seen as building for the RJD led by Tejashwi Yadav sustains.

“We would be an important player in national politics if we win a good number of Lok Sabha seats. Currently, we have 45 MLAs in the Assembly. If fresh polls are held soon, this number would go up substantially,” a JD(U) leader said.

A BJP leader confirmed that the JD(U) was keen on Assembly elections along with Jharkhand, in November-December. “If the alliance puts up an impressive performance, it will be good to go for Assembly polls in that positive atmosphere. The JD(U) is keen to take advantage of the conducive atmosphere,” the leader said.

Sources in the BJP said that while Nitish met Modi, he spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone, after a planned meeting did not materialise. However, “there were no significant political discussions”, party leaders said.

Tyagi argued that the JD(U)’s stand should not come as a surprise as it had always been in favour of simultaneous polls. “As the NDA looks set to return to power, we demand early elections in Bihar. Nitish has always supported the idea as holding elections together would save a lot of money,” he said.

On the “timing” of the party’s demand, Tyagi said: “It has nothing to do with timing. We had even told the panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind (on one nation, one election) that we were in favour of the idea.”

The JD(U) spokesperson added that INDIA parties were against “one nation, one election” as they felt that in such a scenario, the ruling coalition at the Centre would play up its flagship schemes, blunting local issues.