As Nitish goes with BJP again, voices of dissent surface in JD(U)

Nitish Kumar resigned on Wednesday, ending his so-called Mahagathbandhan with Lalu Prasad’s RJD and the Congress.

Voices of dissent within Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) to taking the support of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for government formation have started coming in loud and clear.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar with senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi at legislators meeting in Patna on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Ali Anwar was the first to express his opposition, saying he did not support Kumar’s decision.

Political commentators said more voices of dissent could be expected from around JD(U)’s 20 legislators (MLAs and MLCs) belonging to the Muslim-Yadav community.

Anwar told ANI on Thursday just as Kumar had heard the voice of his ‘atma’ (soul) to go with the BJP, his ‘zameer’ (conscience) did not allow him to support the CM on this move. Anwar added he would explain his stand before the party if he got an opportunity.

Anwar said the reasons why Kumar had severed ties with the NDA in 2013 had still not changed.

Senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, also a Rajya Sabha member, also hit a discordant note barely an hour before Kumar was sworn in as chief minister.

Kumar resigned on Wednesday, ending his so-called Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress.

His surprise decision came hours after Lalu ruled out the resignation of his son and deputy chief minister Tejashwi, who is facing an investigation over an alleged land-for-hotels scandal.