If Modi’s gamble pays off, Nitish Kumar will be ‘sane voice’

That was the feeling in political circles with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar coming out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s contentious demonetisation step.

Mr Kumar said that though he remains unwavering in his backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his banning of 500 and 1,000-rupee notes, the support comes with no strings attached.

While the Congress and RJD, partners in the Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan, are silently upset with Nitish’s endorsement of the note withdrawal scheme, leaders on the other side of the spectrum are seeing a “political content”.

Hitting out at the central government he said, “Just before demonetisation BJP purchased properties worth crores in Bihar & other areas to turn black money into white”.

Chaudhary, who’s a season politician – he is party’s state chief and a minister in the Nitish Kumar government – could have chosen to answer the question differently.

While RJD sources said Yadav accepted the invitation and promised to be seen beside Banerjee at the demonstration venue, it seemed on Sunday that the RJD chief is having second thoughts.

“It is absurd to allege that the party has started buying properties in view of demonetisation”, party spokesman and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a statement.

“This move has exposed the fact that BJP was aware of demonetisation and finalised deal for land before it was announced by Modi. My opponents are trying to politically assassinate me by spreading canards that we are getting closer to the BJP”.

Opposition leaders point out despite Kumar’s refusal to join the Opposition mobilisation, his senior party colleague Sharad Yadav has taken the lead in rallying the united Opposition against the Modi regime, along with many JD (U) MPs in Parliament. “We also acknowledge his support to the GST bill”, a party leader said.

The response of JD (U) leaders was more guarded. Interestingly Trinamool Congress leaders have been scathing in their attack on PM Modi with MP Derek O Brien mincing no words in the Rajya Sabha today while the Prime Minister listened quietly. He also dismissed reports of “confusion or fissures” in the grand alliance in Bihar over the demonetisation issue.

Kharge also said that people are dying for their own money and this is the situation “we want to discuss in the House with the Prime Minister”. “The only objective of the grand alliance was the welfare of the people of Bihar and to keep BJP out of power”, Tyagi said.