Career politics and Nitish’s exit

Post-2019, the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a raft of changes with political leaders switching sides and new ones entering politics.

A political leader’s turnaround not only surprised me but also piqued my interest in understanding the reason spurring his change of heart. A few months ago, I phoned him, in connection with an article, and asked him the reason behind his shifting political loyalty. His answer was simple and candid: a calculated move for a promising political career ahead. In politics, not many political leaders have the temerity to speak so honestly and bluntly. Over the last few decades, we have seen political leaders and parties prioritizing personal political careers over ideologies.

Nitish Kumar’s on again, off again relationship with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a perfect example of a careerist political leader, shaped by the dynamics of coalition politics. The coalition politics is largely the politics of shared interests rather than the ideologies. Here, the ideologies and mandates are sacrificed for personal interests. It is an arrangement where green and orange could coalesce for interests. And once the interests are not well served or even slightly harmed, they fall apart and retain their own separate colors.

The political analysts or the people familiar with Kumar’s political somersaults from the days of Samata Party know his power ambitions. They must have taken his recent statement that he would stay in NDA forever with a pinch of salt. Each time he left the NDA, he was equally confident that he would not rejoin it. In August 2022, when Kumar rejoined Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), he had accused the BJP of making attempts to split his party and upbraided it on the question of caste.

Who would have guessed that after much political bickering, he would be back in the NDA barely after 14 months. In an era of coalition politics that began with Janta government in 1967, everything thing is possible. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2014 had completely ruled out any possibility of joining hands with Kumar, billing him as BJP’s pet. We all know that Mahagathbndhan was born only a year later, which saw Yadav, Kumar and Left parties together.

Kumar’s exit also marks his departure from Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). His departure is bound to make an already struggling alliance more precarious or shaky. It will have repercussions beyond Bihar. For instance, Kumar could have easily wooed voters of his Kumri community in many pockets of Uttar Pradesh.

Kumar’s good-bye to INDIA will not only dampen the spirits of some serious partners but also send out a message to the voters that a formidable alliance against the BJP/ NDA is not possible.

His exit has again precipitated the debate on whether the INDI-Alliance could last till elections, shedding light on the trouble spots like West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab. Even in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress do not seem in a mood to contest the elections together.
The rumors, statements, subtle hints and political gossips suggest that each party is readying itself for an independent fight.