It is back to the old days of Nitish Kumar and Sushil Modi as chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively in Bihar.
In a fast moving six hours, Nitish dumped the maha gathbandhan that came to power in October 2015, much as he had dumped the BJP in 2013. He kissed and made up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi much the way he had done with RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The more things change the more they remain the same, is one cliched way of describing it. There is a general belief among politicians of all hues that public memory is very short. But fact of the matter is it is made shorter as parties and leaders let ideology go to the winds as they negotiate to hold on to power. That is just what Nitish Kumar has done.
As much as he stands against corruption, Nitish has stood for what he calls social justice—for Muslims, dalits among others. At a time when cases of lynching are making headlines, Nitish Kumar will be expected to voice these concerns and act against perpetrators. More importantly, he will be seen from the prism of his influence over the BJP and its saffron supporters and mentors, to act against those.
For Nitish who has deftly manoeuvred through political obstacles all these years, 2020—when assembly polls are due in Bihar—is a tomorrow, another day with many between now and then.
What could the scenario be like? A lot will depend on 2019 Lok Sabha results. If the performance of the Modi government, along with his and his campaign, gets JD(U) reasonable numbers, and he sees continuity as chief minister, the relationship will last.
If his base is eroded, and seats diminish, Nitish will not shy away from looking for green pastures.
But the more ponder able thought is whether a very aggressive BJP whose ambition appears to be " Virodhi mukt Bharat", that is opposition free India, is going to be wooing and romancing him then. Much will depend on the opposition show in assembly polls between now and then.
