In the first meeting of the NDA Parliamentary Party after the formation of the 18th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stressed on coordination between the spokespersons of all the constituent parties, saying that this would convey the government’s message to the public in one voice. But in recent times, it has happened many times when the stand of the NDA constituent parties was also different from the government’s line and appeared close to the opposition India Block. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is leading the NDA, sent a strong message to Chirag Paswan by getting Pashupati Paras, who was missing from the political scene, to meet Bihar state president and Amit Shah. Now KC Tyagi has been removed from the post of chief spokesperson of Janata Dal (United).
Like Chirag, KC Tyagi’s stand was also giving the message of differences in NDA many times. KC Tyagi had written an article recently which was published in a Bihar newspaper. In this, Rahul Gandhi’s current politics was termed correct and reservation and caste survey were called the need of the hour. KC Tyagi was earlier seen standing with the opposition’s stand on the issue of Palestine war that India should not help Israel. KC Tyagi is considered to be Nitish’s eyes and ears in Delhi. In such a situation, his stand was also making BJP leaders uncomfortable.
There is also a discussion that former JDU president and Union Minister Lallan Singh and Sanjay Jha had met KC Tyagi a few days ago and asked him to resign from the post of Chief Spokesperson. After resigning from the post of Chief Spokesperson, KC Tyagi wished for the long life of Bihar and the Central Government and said that he had requested to resign a year ago as well. I have not been participating in any debate for the last four months. I have also worked with Atal-Advani and I have no opposition to BJP. JDU has also cited ‘personal reasons’ as the reason for the resignation.
From KC Tyagi to JDU, everyone is citing personal reasons behind the change in the post of chief spokesperson, but in the political corridors of Bihar, it is being seen as a part of the Chirag chapter. First Chirag and now KC Tyagi, it is being seen as a strong message to the NDA constituents that statements against the government will not work while staying in the alliance. It is also being linked to BJP’s slogan of a strong government.
Senior journalist Omprakash Ashk said that Nitish Kumar, no matter which alliance he is in, always keeps his window open for everyone. KC Tyagi has close relations with all the big leaders of the opposition. Be it his article or his stand on Israel, Nitish Kumar or any other JDU leader neither denied anything he said nor brushed it aside calling it a personal opinion. It is possible that Tyagi’s departure from the post of JDU’s chief spokesperson has a BJP connection, but there is another aspect too. It is also possible that Nitish has relieved KC Tyagi from the post with the intention that if his mind changes in the future, there should be a ‘ready to move’ situation for JDU in the opposition camp.
Chirag’s tone softened after meeting Shah
Be it the Waqf Bill or reservation or UPSC’s advertisement for recruitment through lateral entry, Chirag Paswan’s stand was seen different from the government on many occasions. Chirag Paswan’s party had also announced to contest the Jharkhand elections alone. Chirag’s tone has now softened. After meeting Amit Shah, Chirag termed the speculations of differences with the BJP as rumours and said that my love for Narendra Modi is unbreakable. As long as he is the Prime Minister, no one can separate me from him. He had said that if the BJP wants, we are ready to fight the Bihar elections together with the NDA. Chirag is now assuring unwavering loyalty to the BJP. This is being said to be the effect of Shah’s meeting with Pashupati Paras. Through this meeting, the BJP has in a way given a message to Chirag that the party is not dependent on him alone for Dalit votes in Bihar. The BJP also has a Plan B.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)