Nitish Kumar’s 9th Inning Switcheroo

In the grand theater of Indian politics, Bihar’s very own Nitish ‘Paltu’ Kumar has orchestrated yet another dazzling performance. Center stage, Nitish Kumar, the man dubbed “Paltu Kumar” for his talent in political switcheroo, has pulled off his most audacious act yet – a ninth stint as Chief Minister, this time arm-in-arm with the very BJP he swore he’d “rather die” than join.
Just months before the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, Kumar, like a seasoned Bollywood actor, has executed a dramatic twist, leaving the audience – or rather, the electorate – both bewildered and amused.

The RJD finds itself unceremoniously kicked off the stage, its ministers sent packing in a political eviction notice. The INDIA alliance, Kumar’s once-passionate project to unite against the BJP, lies in tatters, its members left muttering about betrayal and backstabbing. But is this just a shameless power play, or a calculated chess move? Kumar, ever the enigma, claims it’s all about “serving the people” and “development.” Prime Minister Modi, ever the diplomat, showers congratulations and promises “full dedication” to the “family members of the state” – a phrase that might raise a few eyebrows in Bihar.

Meanwhile, the opposition is having a field day. Shashi Tharoor throws shade with a well-timed “snollygoster,” Lalu Yadav’s daughter tweets cryptic garbage metaphors, and Sharad Pawar dubs Kumar the “Great Paltu Ram,” his loyalty a yo-yo dancing to the BJP’s tune. Tejashwi Yadav, the ousted Deputy CM, refuses to be the damsel in distress. He dismisses Kumar as a “tired CM” and declares the game has just begun, reminding everyone that Bihar holds a whopping 40 Lok Sabha seats.

Kumar’s flip-flop, for all its drama, might be a masterstroke for the BJP. The opposition, already plagued by internal squabbles in Punjab and West Bengal, now has a fractured Bihar to contend with. The NDA’s chorus of “unstable alliance” just gained a powerful tenor. But even as the dust settles, one question lingers: who choreographed this political ballet? Was it Nitish Kumar, a seasoned performer with a penchant for the unexpected? Or was it the BJP, pulling the strings from the wings, ever ready to welcome a prodigal son back into the fold?

Only time will tell if this latest act lands Kumar a standing ovation or a chorus of boos. But one thing’s for sure: the Bihar political scene, never dull, just upped the entertainment quotient.