Is it the Non-Secular image or just Modi that irks Kumar?

 BY- Numan Mishra 

!!PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS!!

When it comes to being in power in the next general elections, no other party seems as dismantled as NDA is at the moment. The party has been facing this apocalyptic leadership crisis ever since India shinned on paper in Atal Bihari regime. Many leaders have been tried ever since but none managed to bring in the charm for the party. Even the great Advani could not bring glory, and suffered two successive defeats From the UPA. 

Even when everything is going wrong for the UPA in its 10 years with the job, it seems little relaxed with the lack of competitiveness shown by the NDA. It seems as everything is in the favor of NDA, yet it fails to grasp the opportunity at hand. With winds in favor the NDA’s ship refuses to sail, with UPA on back foot NDA still doesn’t hail. Indeed everything is not right in NDA at the moment. And now that the veil is finally off from the relationship between NDA coalitions especially JDU and BJP, the future of the coalition seems uncertain if not completely off. 
Ever since Bihar CM and his Gujrat counterpart Narendra Modi ‘Namo’ came face to face on the PM issue, the party has not found its right bearings. Kumar does not want NDA to project Namo as the 2014 Pm Candidate. Singing in tune are the JDU members that the country should have a PM with a secular image, be it in the 2014 elections.

While there was never an actual or official projection of any one in the form of the prime ministerial candidate from the NDA, but Kumar did start singing his own secularism love Ballard in a rather auspicious way. Utterly confusing!  

However, the common man who is on a rebound from congress may feel confused and start humming “Why This Kolaveri Di”? It’s not as if the common man has no other options, he certainly has, and even the great A.B Vardhan has said this repeatedly that come 2014 elections and this country will show that it can think beyond UPA and NDA. But the sheer sense of a national sentiment of making it large every time leaves him with BJP only.

The question is dubious “Why This Kolaveri Di”? but there is a concrete reason behind this dubious question; the whole approach to the matter by both the parties (BJP-JDU) seems exaggerated unconstitutionally. Yes unconstitutionally! Why? Just because of the methods used by the members of BJP and JDU to spit venom against each other. While the traditional media was present to record and convey each and every sophisticated and encapsulated message from one party to the other, the warriors choose to fight unconventionally through Twitter, Blogs and Party literatures. This for once does not make any sense. The main reason is the fact that the general elections are in 2014, and there is a long road of Planning, thinking, witty promotions, and word-war leading up to them.

Its anybodies game, however the UPA for sure is on the back foot. This certainly was the time when the second largest party of India NDA, utilized the common mans anger and disappointment against the UPA government to its advantage. Alas what we really have is, bunch of power hungry politicians engaged in the internal party turf war. It’s more disappointing than sad, simply because it shows the lack of political knowledge in the NDA members.
While all this should have been amusing to the UPA government, but the goat at the butcher shop does not get amused by the opera. The UPA members seem more confused than interested in this couple’s fight between BJP and JDU. Couple’s fight? Yes, because of the methods used in this internal spat were unconventionally unique for a political war, it was much like an older couple which has seen many ups and downs in life fighting for a cookie, it doesn’t make any sense.
It all started with Nitish Kumar the Bihar CM, and the Renaissance man for the on paper developing Bihar, speaking candidly with a news media. He was so much overwhelmed by an almost hallucinating image of Bihar overshadowing every other state including Gujrat with its development spin that he went ahead and spoke his heart out. He definitely tried to encapsulate his words but maybe the emotions went ahead and grew larger than he could control. Nitish said “The NDA should not project someone with a non-secular image as the prime ministerial candidate; come the 2014 elections”. Not only that, Kumar also said that NDA should in fact give chance to a leader from undeveloped states like Bihar, and Orissa. We all know that Orissa is just a support Phrase here, don’t we? Anyway his statement also conveys that the congress is definitely done for in the next elections. Kumar may also have warned, rather than suggested the NDA to not project NAMO as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the next elections.
While Namo himself preferred to not enlighten on this issue his ardent fans and diehard RSS members backed Namo and even retaliated against Kumar. Soon the whole NDA alliance started boiling on the issue especially BJP and JDU. While many BJP top leaders silently disagreed and even condemned Kumar’s new strategy, the RSS giant Mohan Bhagwat completely wrote off Kumar and even termed him selfish. Bhagwat went ahead a notch and even said that NDA should project someone with a Hindutwawadi mental frame as a PM candidate. Bhagwat certainly backed up Namo for the PM candidate, in his unique bullish way.

Advani who is assumedly sidelined after the last defeat of the party in the general election too could not resist himself from backing up Namo. He wrote in his blog that Namo is a secular leader and if not for his wrongly accusation in the Godhara Kand, he has a very clean image. Namo has taken Gujrat to heights it had never achieved. Be it industries, Agriculture, Infrastructure or the Education sector, Namo has proved himself worthy enough for a term as a PM. Advani also hinted that the general consensus in the BJP also seems completely in favor of Namo. Time to time the same idea was portrayed by Ravishankar Prasad, C.P Thakur, Giriraj Singh and many members of RSS. however Advani did spark another row by saying that the 2014 elections will see a non BJP non Congress candidate as the PM. He clearly was hinting towards Nitish Kumar. everyone from BJP immediately started speaking against Advani. seeing no way out, a cornered Advani choose to put this all on the media and said that the media is so dumb it portrayed the wrong conception from my blog..owww poor stupid media. Advani did dodge a bazooka by playing this media so stupid card just like Salman Khurshid did a few days back when he accidentally called Rahul Gandhi, a good for nothing lazy piece of Shi*. Anyways Advani managed to save himself from the wrath of BJP titans, but in his vigil he did give Kumar a little more hallucinating hope of becoming a PM in 2014. with this god-sent AakashVani from Advani Kumar started day dreaming. 

While all this was happening, along came a new twist in the tale, Kalam decided to go Shakespeare cum Sherlock Holmes at the same time with his Uber Controversial Book "Turning Points", in which he wrote an account of his five-year tenure as President. Fortunately for him controversy sells like hot cake in India, unfortunately for BJP his book revealed too much about them. What was supposed to be an autobiography turned out to be a controversial inquiry report. Kalam wrote that during the Godhara Kand, the then PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee got very sad and he felt that removing Namo from the party was only option. But senior members of BJP, namely Pramod Mahajan, Rajnath Singh and Advani convinced him otherwise. However this proved self demolishing for the NDA government and it toppled from power.

This new twist from Kalama’s Book gave JDU and Kumar a new weapon to use against Namo, while Kumar himself choose to be a spectatator this time his Party punters specially Sunil Jha, Shivanand Tiwari and few others openly attacked Namo and his candidature for the Prime ministerial candidature, come 2014.

BJP which was on the back foot on this issue choose to remain silent but did deploy the outright spoken Krackon, Giriraj Singh on JDU. Giriraj started a parallel retaliation against the JDU and took it to answer the harsh questions of Bihar JDU members. Soon the war of words started growing Ugly with Shivanand and Giriraj outsmarting each other with witty remarks. Gririaj even called Shivanand Poshua Hanuman, which means he was sent in from Lalu’s RJD to dislodge JDU. 
Then the JDU inducted Sanjay Jha of BJP in its own Party which added more fuel to this ever so growing fire. The small war of words was now an ugly burning cauldron. The long reigning BJP JDU alliance started looking distorted and tangled. while the BJP kept saying that Sanjay Jha had asked before leaving, the JDU was singing along an entirely different tune. Kumar even said that there are many members of BJP willing to joi his party but he will not spill the beans as of yet. Blown by the recent proceedings BJP tried to retaliate through C.P Thakur, but failed to salvage any pride. when Some of the BJP members said that they could also chip members of JDU and induce in to their party whenever they wanted, Kumar replied confidently and said if ata all anyone is willing they can take them in their party. The bluff went wrong from the Bihar BJP, so it resigned to the JDU and almost forfeited this first volley. However the mighty Kackon did manage to bring in some carcases of JDU ego along. Giriraj took a witty dig at Sanjay Jha and termed him a traitor, and said "NATHUNI DI JIS YAAR NE SUMIRAT BARAM BARI, NAAK DINI KARTAR NE USKO DIYA BISARI" . This remark proved rocket fuel for the already burning fire and initiated round two in the ongoing BJP vs JDU.       
However the top leaders from both the party soon realized this and the fighting punters from both parties were gouged. Senior Leaders from both the party once again reminded each other of the coalition policies. While Advani educated BJP, Sharad Yadav, pulled a few ears from the JDU camp. Anyway the burning cauldron was cooled off for the moment and Nitish was assured that there have not been any talks regarding the PM candidate in the BJP. And only after the 2014 elections are done with, the NDA will unanimously decide its PM candidate. This was just the assurance Kumar wanted. Perhaps momentarily but Kumar locked his hounds, and put his sword back in the deck.  Seeing it from the sidelines it seemed as if the warlords had returned to their respective bunkers and the Mighty Krackon returned to its den. However it was evident that the mighty Krackon was disappointed of being gouged.

The aftermath of this almost chaotic event was very peculiar the members of BJP and JDU kept avoiding each other and even if their paths crossed they made it a routine to not to look each other in the eyes. It was as if a couple which was about to file a divorce but then decided to give their relationship one more chance. the divorce between the BjP and JDU was halted. But for how long, one wondered?

Anyways it was very disappointing to see such a capable volcanic issue fizz out like a loosely fitted soda bottle. But little did we know that the recent future holds many more surprises for us. Just days after the cease fire, came the supernova and changed the whole equation head to toe. Lens of media a social and political research agency conducted an independent research in the state and the results were Tsunamic, Namo emerged as the people’s choice for the 2014 PM, not only that, to add salt to Kumar’s wounds the research concluded that if the BJP-JDU coalition were to end in the state BJP will emerge as the top party in the breakup aftermath. Ouch!! It just hurt JDU so bad and it showed from there faces. The pain of dismissal was so much that they could not keep the pain to themselves. This gave the Bihar BJP a chance to show a mirror to already wounded and defaced JDU and Nitish Kumar. While BJP was Basking in the momentous glory, JDU was hurt and badly wounded. Kumar and his punters tried to dilute the issue but BJP made sure that it did not fizz out soon, not until it bulldozed the home brewed confidence of Kumar and his party.

The BJP was confident now that the JDU has no other choice than to give in to BJP’s demands and accept Namo or whoever is chosen as the PM candidate. But little did BJP know that Kumar has one more trick up his sleeve. The President elections came knocking and everyone took it as a dress rehearsal to the actual showdown in 2014. While Sangma was unanimously suggested and supported by BJP, the JDU backed out and supported Pranab Da instead. Surprised, Hurt and Confused BJP had never thought that this day would come, however it did happen and Pranab Outshined Sangma. It was more of a Congress defeating BJP rather than Pranad defeating Sangma, a big dent in the confidence of BJP leading up to the 2014 elections.

While BJP was busy repenting on its decision to continue its coalition with JDU, the JDU itself was busy partying and celebrating Pranab’s fixed win, with UPA playing proud host. 
A revenge well taken by JDU, however no one from JDU camp ever addressed this diversion from Sangma to Pranab as a turning point to the relations between BJP-JDU. Kumar constantly repeated that He was supporting Pranab because of the long grown historic relationship of Bihar and Bengal. Perhaps trolling BJP or just playing dirty, the JDU showed the same mirror to BJP and reminded that while the Lens of Media survey did write-off JDU, but even the BJP is nothing without JDU.
A message cleverly conveyed by JDU, did open eyes of some of the BJP leaders. And soon senior party leaders started getting in touch with Kumar, reassuring him that the PM candidate will only be decided after the 2014 elections are concluded. Nitin Gadkari even held an unofficial meeting with Kumar and listened to his part of the story. The veil on this conversation was completely off and Kumar candidly suggested that he will not agree to contest together if Namo will be projected by NDA. This is definitely was a Game match point two for the JDU in the ongoing BJP vs JDU smash derby.
Even Bala Saheb wrote in his Samna that Kumar and Namo are not the only ones fighting for the PM’s post, old warhorses like Advani are also still in the contention. He said that the coalition between the JDU and BJP does not have a future in these circumstances. The BJP seems to have been affected by a plague of some kind, since no decision is being concreted at the party level. While Congress almost bullishly manipulates its coalition parties and chooses its own PM candidate, the BJP which is the bigger party in the NDA coalition fails to do so. if not for the occasional hiccups suffered by Mamta, the congress almost dictates terms to its coalitions. but the BJP seems powerless when it comes to dictating terms to its allies, why? I can only see one reason and that is simply the fact that everyone in BJP is lusting for the PMO's post, in his own self-declared way. he was definitely hinting towards Advani and Gadkari.  

However, with all these sophisticated and elaborated word wars and scpae gloating politics one can be rest of assured that all is not right in the NDA. The future of the coalition is one thing and the 2014 elections are another. Congress will be projecting Rahul Gandhi as its PM candidate for sure. It has even hinted that Rahul Gandhi will take his own decisions to take up bigger responsibilities. The UPA needs a turnaround with its recent sunken image, and the only thing that can work in its favor is if Rahul Gandhi is projected for the PM.

Also it cannot be denied that Kumar may not be actually against Namo, but anyone who is between him and the PM candidature. In this scenario BJP which has already been facing Apocalyptic Leadership crisis is left shattered and confused. However, amongst all this it is BJP’s decision to take. If it projects Namo or anyone else Kumar will certainly not embrace the idea. Also if at all NDA does project Kumar as a PM candidate, the history does not back up a long running regime for the party at the centre. Even Bala Thankre said in his Samna that whenever a PM from a smaller party from a coalition is installed as a PM, the Government becomes unstable and topples from power before the allotted regime.

Also by installing Kumar it will in turn be breaking hearts and angering many senior party members. Namo will also not take it sitting, he has long been running Namo for PM campaign for 7 years straight now, and if the NDA decides to not to project Namo as PM it will hurt it even more badly. 

While rumors may indicate Kumar can also associate with UPA, but it does not seem likely under the current circumstances. Since Kumar has spoken clearly on this issue and has reiterated time and again that there is no point of his parties association with the UPA. 
Another thing that can happen is Kumar can give in to the demands of BJP leading up to the 2014 elections. But that also does not seem very likely seeing the hunger of power in him. Lalu had once said that “MERE TOH MUH ME DAANT HAI INKE PET ME BHI DAANT HAI”.

One more thing that can be happening here is the fact that this is all a well planned diversion created by NDA and coalitions. While Kumar keeps enjoying the Muslim votes in Bihar by speaking against Namo. Namo will keep gathering the emotional support of all the Hindu votes which will in turn be the decisive point in the 2014 elections. It can also be possible that Kumar may not actually be lusting for Pm post for himself and by speaking against each other; they may be paving ways for each other to keep enjoying public support in their respective domains.

The evidence of the above fact is that when BJP was in power and Godhara Kand happened, Kumar could have resigned or protested or even condemned the incident, but the fact that he choose to not raise his voice meant that he was in tune with the Gujrat CM, Narendra Modi. So why is he suddenly so obsessed about protesting Namo as NDA’s PM candidate? Also ever since the media stared digging Kumar's past and asked him to name one secular leader from BJP, Kumar started dismissing his own earlier statements by saying he was never a contender for the  elections. From his misleading parallel theories it is more than clear that Kumar is willing to eat his own words for the sake of this coalition. Hence it is almost certain that Kumar may not have any intentions of being a PM as of yet, and by speaking against Namo he may in turn be helping him.      
Also if the social media is to be believed the country is indeed ready for a Hindutwawadi PM after what has happened in the UPA-1 and UPA-2. The Hindutwawadi may not be confused with Non-Secularism here. The broader definition of Sarva Dharm Smanway should be taken in to consideration here.    
Since nothing is permanent in politics any of the above scenarios can present itself in the future without any warning. We can act surprised or confused but the fact that we are on a rebound makes it more interesting for us than any one of these parties.

What will eventually happen is for the future to spill, but one thing that can be safely said is the fact that its not the Secular image or Namo himself that irks Kumar it is much bigger and beyond that. The lust for ultimate power in a democratic framework is strong enough to melt anyone in to a self declared PM candidate. It has happened in the pas and it will keep on happening. From Advani to Namo, from L.N Mishra to Jagannath Mishra, from Sanjeev Gandhi to Varun Gandhi, the lust for power has driven many a families, parties, Sangathan, coalitions and ideologies apart. The whole point of shuttering in the political drains is the fact that power is addictive and hallucinating. Everyone needs it, and it is this lust for power that has created the difference between the two long running friends BJP-JDU.

BY- Numan Mishra 

!!PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS!!