Nitish takes guard for second innings, has task cut out

Nitish Kumar, the trained engineer for whom the development mantra spun magic, has his task cut out to further change the face of Bihar riding on a massive mandate that has raised expectations.

Nitish Kumar, the trained engineer for whom the development mantra spun magic, has his task cut out to further change the face of Bihar riding on a massive mandate that has raised expectations.

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As the 59-year-old chief minister, who took guard today for a second innings, savours the victory on the back of a personal commitment to good governance and socialist principles, the soft spoken politician remains unwavering in his mission to make Bihar one of the leading states.

Often called Chanakya for his political astuteness, Kumar blended his secularist ideology with pragmatic politics and combined the development plank with innovative social engineeering equations to get a rare four-fifth majority for his JD(U)-BJP alliance Kumar with his trademark kurta pyjama and grey stubble has become RJD strongman Lalu Prasad's nemesis single handedly contributing to the electoral meltdown of RJD-led Secular Democratic Front for the second time in five years.

Beating the anti-incumbency factor, the JD-U leader, a socialist of Ram Manohar Lohia mould and a product of the JP movement in the seventies, has been the mascot of NDA's fight against the 15-year Lalu-Rabri rule in Bihar ending their reign in 2005.

Improvement in law and order also came in handy for Nitish as he strode an impoverished state like a colossus. Kumar worked on social engineering equations on the ground to woo the extremely backward castes, the mahadalits and in pockets of poorer muslims carefully fashioning an alliance of these groups though there was virtually no mention of caste in his campaign speeches.

A seasoned and a down to earth man of simple tastes, Kumar, the wily craftsman of modern day politics, did the delicate balancing act keeping votaries of both hardliners in his party JD-U and BJP together notwithstanding his strong views on job reservations for OBCs and dalit muslims.

Considered an able administrator, Kumar's innings in the corridors of power began with his appointment as Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperatives in the National Front government led by V P Singh in 1990.

Despite being instrumental in installation of Lalu Prasad as Chief Minister in 1990, Kumar's relations with the Yadav strongman came under strain in the years that followed, largely due to ‘imperious’ style of functioning of the RJD chief.

The two parted company and Kumar along with Fernandes and 12 other MPs quit Janata Dal and formed Samata Party in 1994 and waged a sustained political battle against Lalu-Rabri rule.