The success of NDA in the Bihar assembly elections largely hinges on the Chief Minister candidate. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his party, JD(U), wouldn't tolerate the appointment of another individual as the CM candidate. This would be a significant embarrassment for them and also a potential risk for the BJP. Home Minister Amit Shah previously stated at the AajTak Agenda that the decision regarding Nitish Kumar as the CM candidate would be finalized in a joint party meeting. Again, during his recent visit to Bihar, Shah's comments were difficult to interpret. While Shah seemed to affirm Nitish Kumar's candidacy, a deeper analysis suggests otherwise. What does the BJP truly desire?
What Did Amit Shah Say About the CM Candidacy?
During his Bihar visit, Amit Shah clarified that the elections would be contested under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, but he did not shed light on whether Kumar would retain the CM post after victory. At Patna's Bapu Auditorium, during a cooperative department event, the Home Minister urged for an NDA government in Bihar in 2025 under Modi and Nitish's leadership, appealing for another opportunity for Bihar's development. Shah noted Nitish Kumar's significant role in transforming Bihar, seemingly dismissing the notion of sidelining him. Yet, his statements left room for doubt as he did not explicitly state that Nitish would continue as CM if victorious. Mentioning Modi's name as PM should not be over-interpreted, but politics is a playground of possibilities where every word has multiple meanings.
BJP's Focus on a Strategy Similar to AAP's in Delhi for Bihar
There is no denying BJP's awareness of Nitish's advancing age and health concerns, acknowledging that the opposition might leverage this to their advantage. While overtly endorsing Nitish as the leader could lead to BJP's loyalists and workers becoming inactive, potentially driving disgruntled voters towards Prashant Kishor. However, BJP views this situation as advantageous, aiming to prevent anti-incumbency votes from entirely benefiting RJD. This strategy mirrors AAP's rationale in Delhi, not aligning with Congress to prevent disgruntled AAP supporters from shifting entirely towards BJP. Similarly, BJP is likely strategizing in Bihar, unperturbed by Prashant Kishor's influence.
Implementing Maharashtra's Strategy in Bihar
Much like BJP maintained Eknath Shinde as the leader throughout the Maharashtra elections, a similar approach might be adopted in Bihar. During Maharashtra's assembly campaign, Devendra Fadnavis once hinted at Eknath Shinde as the CM candidate, yet post-election outcomes differed. Shinde eventually settled for the Deputy CM role. In Bihar, BJP seems intended to unite all factions for the election effort. Post-results, Nitish may not assume the Deputy CM position, but perhaps his son, Nishant Kumar, could be appointed instead, aligning everyone for a concerted campaign effort.
