The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has managed to make an impossible a possible by convincing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to go Rajya Sabha to make way for a BJP Chief Minister in the state. The development will be remembered as end of an era in the Bihar politics. This will also usher a new beginning in the politics of the state which is coincided by a national president of the BJP Nitin Nabin belonging to Bihar.
All this is a feel good for the BJP but Nitish Kumar’s shift from Patna to Delhi may have some functional issues that the BJP leadership will have to deal with cautiously as JD (U) workers are furious with the development and incidence of vandalism were reported from the JD (U) office. A section of workers is accusing some of its own party leaders for the development by even calling them a ‘Jaichand’. They are actually fearful about the future existence of JD (U). Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary are in the line of fire for the development not only from the party insider but also by the Opposition that wants to capitalise on the situation.
The feared Mahamerger of JDU and BJP:
There is another apprehension that is causing fear in the minds of workers and leaders of JD (U) that the BJP may stage a coup to get its alliance partner merged with the BJP by projecting an MBC leader in the state as Chief Minister and face of the BJP in the state. This is being termed as political Mahamerger with two leaders Rajeev Ranjan aka Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha allegedly working for the cause where the party merges with the BJP. With a BJP chief minister in Bihar, this will be easier to execute the plan but this will not be done in a hurry. However, for some in the JD(U), merger is now just a matter of time.
Governor and LG reshuffle:
When no one even imagined, the Centre reshuffled nine Governors and LGs on the same day when Nitish Kumar’s Rajya Sabha nomination still was a hot story of the day, the major gubernatorial reshuffle involving several states and Union Territories, including Delhi, Ladakh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland took place. But the most notable among them is appointment of former Indian ambassador to the United States of America Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Retd IFS: 1989) who has been named as the new LG of Delhi. Sandhu unsuccessfully contested in 2024 LS polls as BJP candidate from Amritsar. This is being looked upon developing another Sikh leader in view of controversy surrounding Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. However, the NaMo government is known for its craftmanship and gives a long rope to its leaders. It refrains from any jerk reaction which may tantamount to admission of guilt that it doesn’t allow and will not allow to happen. Further, appointment of R N Ravi, the Governor of Tamil Nadu, as the Governor of West Bengal too have political meaning with Assembly elections barely a month or two away.
A complete makeover:
The way BJP is executing its plans one after another after a long spell of indecision, it appears that before 2029 Lok Sabha elections the party wants a complete makeover. One round of changes in the posts of Governors have already been made. New leaders are being sent to Rajya Sabha with the BJP getting youngest ever party president as Nitin Nabin. Under ‘Nabin Yojna’, the BJP plans to constitute its team with younger faces in it.
Reshuffle in the cabinet soon:
The other change in the makeover plan is cabinet reshuffle as doubt is being casted over the continuation of Hardeep Singh Puri. It is being speculated that he would be removed once public memory fades out but past experiences don’t suggest so. Speculation is also rife that Nitish Kumar may be inducted into the Narendra Modi cabinet but there are very little chances to this speculation becoming a reality. But some of the non-performing ministers will certainly go, some performers may get elevated, burden on some may be eased out those having more than two ministries.
Where does India stand in changing Global order:
With Israel and United States of America attacking Iran to force it to discontinue its Nuclear and missile programmes, the question is being raised on the foreign policy of the government of the day in India. The supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is assassinated after a couple of months ago Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was abducted by the US forces from his country and languished him in the US prison. The so-called global powers like China, Russia, European Union and NATO failed to put up a brave face before the US despite the fact that the war is not only going to impact energy security of many countries but will have severe impact on the global economy. India seems to be doing diplomacy diplomatically. It is keeping equal distance from the war but it appears to be siding with Israel for its war against terrorism. The way Iran took stand on Pakistan, Pahalgam terror attack, CAA, Article 370 and Delhi riots, they were certainly not friendly gesture. All the three terror proxies – Hamas, Huti and Hezbollah -- are sympathetic towards POJ&K. Hamas reached even POJ&K which was made possible by its support. Amid all this the Modi government is accused of siding with Israel.
Predicament of Russia and China:
When a country like China which responds with double tariff on the US on any fine imposed on it is keeping a low profile, it means the country is treading cautiously. It just condemned the assassination of Khamenei but beyond that nothing as it doesn’t want to jeopardise its economic interest with the US being one of its top three trading partners. It obviously doesn’t want to harm its trade for Iran. Russia is busy in its own war against Ukraine and it cannot afford to open another front that to with the US. They may be looking for an opportunity to hit the US because the perception of China being emerging global leader received a severe beating. Despite Russia and China criticising the assassination of Khamenei, they did not or were not able to do anything perceptible. However, the perception of US being all powerful is broken the way Iran is retaliating by attacking its bases in the Gulf.