Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was called a “palturam” (one who changes sides) by Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan in Patna on Monday. This was a reference to Nitish joining hands with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Mahagathbandhan at one time for continuing in power.
Both LJP and Nitish’s Janata Dal (United) were constituents of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP before former broke away after party supremo Ram Vilas Paswan’s death. Now the two parties are contesting against one another in the state and locked in bitter political fight.
Chirag also insinuated that Nitish feigned concern about his late father, Ram Vilas Paswan. He said the Bihar CM was not in touch with his father during the last days even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept himself updated about his colleague’s health.
“You hold rallies with the PM these days, you can ask him about my father because he was in touch with him till the last breath,” Chirag said.
Nitish continues to be the NDA face for chief ministership even as Chirag is set to undermine his position. The Bihar CM also faces an uphill task of beating anti-incumbency of mulitiple terms.
Chirag’s jibe at Nitish seems ill advised as his father was known as “political weather cock” for changing sides so many times in his political life. The elder Paswan was considered a past master in predicting correctly as to who was winning and align with that party, or group.
