Another political drama being enacted
in Bihar. The assembly has been dissolved. Governor Buta Singh says he
did this to a horse trading. Lalu is happy, Paswan is playing the blame
game and all this is leading to a fresh elections in Bihar.
The past three months, Bihar witnessed several twists in the plot of
formation of government. The 29 MLAs of Ramvilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti
Party were in touch with NDA leaders but got momentum after the LJP head
declared to support any government in Bihar if it has a Muslim chief
minister, including RJD.
The LJP MLAs contacted leaders like Prabhunath Singh and Lallan Singh
of JD(U) led by Ramashray Prasad Singh for political negotiations.
Ramashray Singh was offered with the post of deputy CM in the coming
government and a Rajya Sabha ticket offer for senior LJP leader Narendra
Singh.
The factors working with LJP MLAs were they started suspecting Paswan
that he would never let a government to be formed. The transfer of Siwan
and Gopalganj district magistrates added that Governor's rule was just a
Lalu raj. These MLAs, elected on anti-Lalu ticket, concluded their pact
with JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar.
NDA provided the domestics. LJP MLAs were spirited into Jharkhand, the
BJP ruled, in three batches of four to five. 21 MLAs had signed up and
with the support of two BSP MLAs, the NDA stood at 120, just short of
the majority bench mark. That is when an accident happened JD(U) MLA
Shravan Kumar, travelling with an LJP bunch from Ranchi to Jamshedpur,
halted at a dhaba with his charges.
They were accompanied by local JD(U) MP Ramesh Munda and this attracted
the attention of a local reporter. The report sparked off furious action
with Paswan rushing to his tough-talking MP Suraj Bhan to Patna. Bhan
persuaded and managed a few MLAs to stay back. But even so, Governor
Buta Singh would found it difficult to ignore Nitish Kumar's claim.
With the possibility of an NDA government, Lalu rushed to Delhi and
recommended dissolution of the assembly on May 22 night saying that he
will not tolerate a Nitish Kumar government to PM Manmohar Singh, Sonia
and key Congress interface Ahmed Patel.
Bihar reached to the closest in getting a government through the
NDA-LJP rebel plan. Paswan, ealier talked about LJP-JD(U) government
with BJP support. BJP agreed but things got twisted after Patel warned
Paswan that this would entail his leaving UPA.
The Election Commission are examining all areas of gains and losses.
Lalu, a complex picture. Paswan, a clear loser. BJP and JD(U) survived
as a team and Nitish, reached very close to his success now stands as
undisputed leader. His appeal to MBCs - the most backward castes - paid
him dividends in February. He will further consolidate this impressive
votebank.
Congress, earlier teamed up with Paswan with a hope to make him
dependent now has no option than to accept any plan the RJD supremo
rolls out.
With the monsoon approaching, elections may not be possible due to the
expected flood in many parts of Bihar before September. It's worth
waiting till the monsoon gives way to winter and obviously the elections
too.
