The exit of the Janata Dal (U) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led NDA combine is the new buzz in India’s political discourse. Known as the secular face of the NDA, Nitish Kumar the JD (U) supremo has begun to claim prime space in television channels. The JD(U) – NDA divorce started with BJP patriarch, LK Advani’s shenanigans. After the Gujarat Chief Minister and the BJP’s rising star Narendra Modi was announced as the campaign manager for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls at the Party conclave in Goa, LK Advani shot off a letter to the Party, resigning from important positions he held. Later, after much persuasion by the Party rank and file Advani reversed his stance. Advani, the old Turk is unhappy over the sudden rise of Narendra Modi. He could not attend the Goa conference because of ill health and felt sidelined that an important decision for the Lok Sabha polls was taken behind his back. Advani is aware that he is being sidelined within the Party. It is not a happy situation for an elder to be nudged out of the decision making circle in the Party. Modi’s rise has also disenchanted the coalition partners, particularly the JD (U) whose leader Nitish Kumar is known to harbour prime ministerial ambitions. That is precisely the problem with the NDA – there are too many prime ministerial aspirants even before the ball is set to roll for the 2014 electoral preparations. And there is place only for one at the top! This could be the undoing of the NDA.
Barely two days after the JD(U) severed ties with the BJP and dissolved the NDA in Bihar, workers of both parties clashed in Patna as the BJP observed a state-wide shutdown to observe Vishwasghat Diwas (Betrayal Day). This was inevitable. The BJP knows that Nitish Kumar brings with him a certain strength because of his secular credentials. Nitish Kumar also has a substantial Muslim vote bank he has to appease. Meanwhile the trading of charges between the JD(U) and the BJP is taken to a feverish pitch. Each one is trying to outdo the other in proving who is at fault for the break-up. Nitish Kumar’s relations with Modi are not unknown. Before the Bihar state assembly elections, Kumar had publicly stated that Modi was not welcome to campaign in Bihar. Since then the differences have been simmering. The break-up was just a matter of time. But even as political parties play their politics the voters are perplexed about who and which party or coalition to repose their faith in. The alternatives to the UPA seem far worse. Now that Modi is effectively crowned the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate it is time to recall the horrors of Godhra – the state sponsored genocide against Muslims. Modi’s brand of politics will lead to complete polarisation of India’s electorate. This does not bode well for the country.