Many opposition leaders on Tuesday reacted to Nitish Kumar breaking ranks with the BJP as a “strong indictment” of the Hindutva party’s “politics of intimidation.”
They lauded Nitish Kumar for snapping ties with Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar and embracing the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) to continue in office while claiming that parliament was adjourned prematurely because of the crisis in that state.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that parliament was adjourned prematurely because of the Bihar situation.
“In March 2020, Modi Sarkar postponed COVID-19 lockdown to engineer the fall of the Kamal Nath govt in MP. Now, it cuts short Parliament session knowing its coalition govt in Bihar is going. What goes up must come down!,” he tweeted.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed Nitish’s move as a “good start.”
“It’s a good start. On this day the slogan of ‘Angrezo Bharat Chhodo’ was given and today the slogan of ‘BJP Bhagao’ is coming from Bihar,” Akhilesh Yadav was quoted as saying by ANI. “I think soon political parties and people in different states will stand against the BJP.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) stated that no ally can safeguard its identity in the saffron camp.
“No political party in NDA is safe with an alliance partner like the BJP. The BJP does not believe in smaller or regional parties’ existence. Its policy ensures the wiping out of regional parties even if they are their allies. Such a development was waiting to happen,” said TMC chief national spokesperson Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.
“We don’t have any political or organisational presence in Bihar. But if BJP is defeated in Bihar then the people of West Bengal will indeed be very happy,” he added.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) said its president and Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin’s vision to fight the BJP at the national level has gained momentum with the JD(U) pulling out of the NDA in Bihar.
CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the BJP has now got a taste of its own medicine.
“The BJP has said that it wanted an opposition-free India. Now, look at how some parties are reacting to them, particularly their allies. They are getting a taste of their own medicine after what they did in Maharashtra,” Yechury told PTI, referring to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray government.
Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda expressed hope of the erstwhile Janata Dal Parivar re-emerging as a political alternative in the country.
“I have been watching the developments in Bihar. It made me think of the days when the Janata Dal Parivar was under one roof. It gave three PMs. I am in my advanced years, but if the younger generation decides, it can offer a good alternative to this great nation,” Gowda tweeted.
“NitishKumar breaking alliance with BJP is a strong indictment of the politics of intimidation practiced by BJP. BJP’s authoritarianism leaves no scope for cooperation. After Akalis & Shiv Sena, JD(U) is latest example. Cracks are visible in the relationship of BJP & AIADMK too,” Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja said in a tweet.
