In a spirited homecoming on Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was greeted with fervor upon his return from Delhi, where he was unanimously elected as the national president of the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)]. A multitude of JD(U) supporters gathered at the airport, braving chilly weather, chanting slogans affirming Nitish's leadership qualities.
As the septuagenarian leader, accompanied by close aide Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan,' emerged from the airport, chants of "desh ka neta kaisa ho Nitish Kumar jaisa ho" (what should the leader of the nation be like? Like Nitish Kumar) filled the air. Kumar, acknowledging the gesture of party workers who showered flower petals, walked through the crowd before boarding his car.
This marks Kumar's second stint as the national president, the first being in 2016 when he succeeded Sharad Yadav. The timing of this development is crucial, with the Lok Sabha polls just over two months away, where Kumar has vowed to challenge the BJP by uniting opposition parties.
Despite repeatedly stating "no personal ambitions" for key positions in the INDIA bloc, Kumar has hinted at expanding his political influence beyond Bihar in the run-up to the elections. An announcement has been made regarding a nationwide "yatra" to press for a caste census, following Bihar's lead in this direction.
The JD(U) considers Nitish Kumar the "ideological Prime Minister," signaling his anticipated central role in national politics. The party's national executive meeting, where Kumar assumed the presidency, emphasized his "better experience in running a coalition" and urged larger parties in the INDIA coalition to acknowledge his significance as the BJP's "biggest worry."
