Patna (Bihar): Though there has been speculation that the NDA, which emerged victorious in the Bihar election, would look to replace Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister with the JD(U) performing below par, the development is unlikely as for the BJP, it has become a matter of keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reputation intact.
Matter of Modi's prestige
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that no one but Nitish Kumar will be the chief minister of Bihar. Modi's declaration has put those state BJP leaders in a questionable position who have been citing JDU winning lesser seats than BJP to stake claim on the chief minister's post for the party. However, it has become a matter of prestige for the BJP, and even a challenge for the party to honour Modi's stand.
Modi had encashed the image of Nitish Kumar for good governance and development and won for the NDA 39 of the total 40 Lok Sabha seats from the state. If the BJP renegades from the Prime Minister's statement that only the 'double engine' government can take Bihar on the path of development, it would only tarnish Modi's image.
Impact on West Bengal and UP elections
Nitish Kumar is also a strong face in the politics of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Politicians, as well as voters in these states, are very well aware that BJP and JDU are allies. Though Nitish Kumar may not be influencing the politics of these states, but it would become a major issue for the opposition to question Modi's credibility if Nitish is replaced as the chief minister.
Read: 'BJP likely to get more cabinet berths in Bihar'
The opposition would have a strong issue to tackle the BJP in the 2021 elections in West Bengal and the UP elections in 2022 on the issue of Modi's credibility and false promises. These elections would put to test BJP's commitment to fulfilling the promises made by PM Modi during campaigning.
Nitish an RSS favourite, important for East India politics
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is also considered a favourite of the RSS. Though Nitish Kumar might have a different view, the RSS considers him important in the politics of Eastern India. When Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP in 2014, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said East India has lost a prominent face.
Nitish Kumar has had a powerful say in Bihar affairs ever since he joined hands with the BJP-led NDA. Whatever policy BJP followed in Bihar was not without the approval of Nitish Kumar. This was true for BJP even during the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, and Rajnath Singh. As long as these leaders had a hold over the party, BJP would not take any major decision for Bihar and Jharkhand without consulting Nitish Kumar.
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In view of the changed politics in Bihar, even Narendra Modi felt that it would be difficult to control Eastern India without the support of Nitish Kumar. Meanwhile, BJP has lost power in Jharkhand. Hence, without the face of Nitish Kumar on its platform, BJP would fail to score mileage in Eastern India.
Directive from New Delhi
Meanwhile, the BJP high command in Delhi has also issued a stern warning to the state BJP leaders after they started talks of dropping Nitish Kumar from the CM post. The party high command told Bihar BJP leaders in no uncertain terms that stern action would be taken against anyone who makes a statement against Nitish Kumar's leadership.
Read: No confusion, Nitish Kumar will be Bihar CM: Sushil Modi
It was senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Choubey who had first made a statement suggesting that Nitish Kumar move from Bihar to the Centre. According to reliable sources, the BJP high command has warned Choubey and other senior party leaders from Bihar not to make any statements on Nitish Kumar.
PM Modi thanked Bihar, said Nitish will lead state
Following the results of the election, PM Modi had thanked the people of Bihar for giving majority to the NDA. He had said no one but Nitish Kumar would be the chief minister of Bihar. On his part, Nitish Kumar thanked PM Modi for the electoral victory of the NDA.
