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Dear Political-Economist Columnist,

Brilliant articulation for JD(U) & RJD in Bihar. Good that the power of two political leaders eventually converged!!

The opinion brings out succinctly the learning curve which does not last from cradle to grave; rather brings back the focus on well-timed, politically astute strategies of Mr Nitish Kumar & Mr Tejashwi Yadav. The message from the CM's office is loud and clear - “Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.” - Cale Yarborough

Currently, BJP is inconsequential to the 'Bihar Galaxy' powered by Mr Nitish Kumar challenging the mighty mountain headed by two brutal tyrants who'd created a new rule book of defection in states ruled by other regional parties/opposition parties/BJP. Now that BJP is in the background, and gets no credit by the people of Bihar including the CM, Mr Nitish Kumar, the current rule is carved to see beyond the BJP tyrant's life after getting put down by Mr Nitish Kumar. #RealitySpeak

I quote yours, "Nitish is a wily politician. The charge of ideological flexibility some critics make against him is wholly baseless. An unwavering commitment to power is an ideology only in a trivial sense; it is more a character trait, and takes a combination of cunning, ruthlessness and the will to act at short notice, to live up to. Nitish has these in plenty, and, as proof, is being sworn in as chief minister of Bihar for an eighth time, precisely on account of those characteristics"

And,

"Now that Nitish has dumped the BJP before the BJP could dump him, how would the BJP react? It would claim too occupy the Opposition space and position itself as the successor government, come the next elections. That is in Bihar. But nationally, there would also be the urge to avenge this humiliation the party has been dealt in Bihar".

Concluded appropriately, 'It is time the Opposition realized that a fight for democracy would be more inspiring and unifying than any appeal to group grievance'. 

Yes, with Mr Nitish Kumar's Chief Ministership & Tejashwi Yadav's Dy Chief Ministership, BJP has become that very thing which it practised & we mocked. This time we miss BJP's special oboes and cellos!! Thank you for this incredibly smart and wise opinion on politics of Bihar, the third largest state by population of India.

Adding a few previous opinions to the current one. 16th January, 2022 opinion on defections in U.P. below

via The Federal https://thefederal.com/opinion/up-defections-reflect-bjps-inability-to-practise-inclusive-politics/

​July 5th, 2022 via The Economic Times https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/et-commentary/lets-not-duck-democracy-the-only-solution-to-the-malaise-of-defection/articleshow/92685225.cms?from=mdr

Well-informed Reader and Creative Soul,

Vandana

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