The MLC then arranged telephonic talks with the elected chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar. It is only after the talks that Raj proclaimed that now Nitish Kumar is free to come over to Mumbai and address the Bihar Diwas function.

But the commander of this private Sena had attached a rider. Nitish will not have to speak anything political and no other political leader would share the dias.

One fails to understand as to why the chief minister of a state, often projected by a section of the media as the likely prime ministerial candidate for the opposition in 2014, had to talk to an unelected man, who can perhaps never become the chief minister of his own state. No one but it is for Nitish to explain this tactical blunder. Only the other day he was saying that he does not need visa from anyone to go to Mumbai and that he would definitely go there.

But there is a big question as to why Raj repeatedly insisted that Nitish would not be allowed to make political statement.

True in a democratic country one is free to celebrate anything anywhere. But the truth is that there is hardly any solid logic to celebrate Bihar Diwas in Delhi or Mumbai and inviting the chief minister. After all Gujaratis or Bengalis––or for that matter any state––living in Bihar have never invited Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee or her predecessors to Patna to attend any function related to their state. So such functions definitely have political meaning and can not be seen in isolation.

Political observers believe that through this Bihar Diwas card Nitish wants to market himself in Delhi, will try to do so in Mumbai and may be in Kolkata or elsewhere. He want to project himself as an all-India leader.

So by asking him point-blank not to raise the political issue Raj has punctured the ambition of Nitish Kumar but at the same time furthered his political agenda of Maharashtra sub nationalism.

But another question is why Raj and not his uncle Bal Thackeray of Shiv Sena raised the issue?

The answer is very much there. Till a few months back Raj was said to be soft towards some leaders of Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. However, of late he has developed a very cordial relationship with the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. He even paid a visit to the state which got good media coverage.

Narendra Modi, on his part, would never allow Nitish to become over-ambitious. After all he has not forgotten the way he had been humiliated and insulted in Patna in June 2010, when the dinner to all the BJP bigwigs (including Modi) was cancelled and Rs five crore of Kosi flood money returned by Nitish. The saffron party was holding its national executive in Patna then and Modi was, rather ironically, put up at the state gate house.

In politics nothing can be ruled out and Narendra Modi’s hand in cutting Nitish to size can not be ruled out. The problem with Nitish is that he had completely ignored the BJP leaders in Bihar Diwas celebration in Patna and Delhi and is going to Mumbai alone. The Janata Dal (United) had not bothered to take the leaders of the BJP into confidence, though the truth is that without the support of the Hindutva party he would not have reached this position.

So today none fo the state or national BJP leaders are speaking or coming to Nitish’s defence. Some of them are furious over the way he is behaving, especially after the UP election and distribution of Rajya Sabha seats.

Those who have been following Nitish closely for quite a few years seriously feel that this whole exercise of Bihar Diwas has potential to backfire on Nitish.

Comment

comments...

People like Raj Thackeray must be controlled and dealt firmly otherwise it is going to be a bad precedent  for our federal structure. I don’t understand who the hell this guy Thackeray is who wants to dictate and decide who will come to Mumbai and who will not. He should keep in mind that Mumbai has become Mumbai just because of outsiders otherwise these fishermen have no much  contribution  for the growth and prosperity of Mumbai. This guy has crossed all the limits and must be dealt firmly and Nitish Kumar must visit without any second opinion .Its better not to give any importance  to this  pahari chuha who only wants to disturb law and order in the city. He must be sent to the mountain and should be  confined.   

Ejaz Ahmad

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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