The political landscape in Bihar witnessed a fresh bout of sparring on Sunday as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) took a sharp dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This comes amid a growing chorus from allies and former colleagues demanding that the veteran leader be honoured with the country's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
The Sarcastic Barb from RJD Camp
RJD MP Sudhakar Singh delivered a pointed, sarcastic comment regarding the Bharat Ratna push for the Chief Minister. Singh acknowledged Nitish Kumar's long tenure but framed it with a veiled reference to his health. The MP stated that despite being unwell, Kumar has managed to serve as Bihar's chief minister for nearly two decades, which in his view makes the leader worthy of an 'honour'.
"Nitish Kumar is undoubtedly a 'Ratna'. There is no doubt about that. But I cannot say which one," Singh remarked, leaving the interpretation of the type of 'gem' or 'jewel' (ratna) open to the audience. He doubled down by adding, "Running a government for 20 years while being ill proves that he is a 'Ratna'."
Growing Demand for the Top Honour
The RJD's jibe follows a series of public endorsements for conferring the Bharat Ratna upon Nitish Kumar. Key figures from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have been vocal in their support.
Union Minister and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi took to social media platform X to express his desire. He wrote in Hindi, imagining how fitting the title 'Bharat Ratna Nitish Kumar Ji' would sound. Manjhi expressed full faith that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his surprising decisions, would once again astonish the nation by bestowing this honour on the Bihar CM.
Earlier, JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi made a fervent plea for the award to be given to Kumar "while he is still alive." Tyagi drew parallels with the recent posthumous awards to socialist icons Chaudhary Charan Singh and Karpoori Thakur. He highlighted Nitish Kumar's role as a living legend of the socialist movement, a founder of the NDA, and the architect of 'sushasan' (good governance) in Bihar.
The Political Undertones and Context
The demands and the subsequent sarcastic reaction are steeped in Bihar's complex political dynamics. Nitish Kumar, who has served as Chief Minister for over 20 years in total, recently realigned with the NDA, leaving the Mahagathbandhan that included the RJD. The comments from RJD MP Sudhakar Singh reflect the ongoing tension between the former allies.
The push for the Bharat Ratna is seen by many as an effort to cement Kumar's legacy and solidify his stature within the NDA fold. However, the RJD's retort suggests that the opposition views the campaign with skepticism, choosing to highlight the Chief Minister's perceived vulnerabilities instead of his achievements.
As the debate continues, all eyes are on whether the political campaign for the honour gains further traction at the national level or becomes another flashpoint in Bihar's relentless political theatre.
