Posters proclaiming Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as "the country's second Gandhi" surfaced in Patna on a Sunday, courtesy of his Janata Dal (United) party associates. These posters lavished praise upon Nitish Kumar for imparting the lesson of equality and acknowledged his tireless endeavors to foster social reforms, suggesting that he is following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi.
The appearance of these posters has triggered reactions from leaders of various political parties. Shivanand Tiwari, a prominent figure in the Rashtriya Janata Dal, voiced his opinion, stating that while the poster may be an expression of admiration from Nitish Kumar's followers, it should not demean Mahatma Gandhi. Tiwari emphasized the rarity of individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, asserting that such luminaries emerge once in a millennium, a sentiment he attributed to Ram Manohar Lohia.
It's noteworthy that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) are partners in the INDIA bloc, yet their history has been marked by fluctuations between collaboration and political rivalry. Moreover, the relationship between JD(U) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar has experienced similar oscillations over time.
The JD(U)'s portrayal of Nitish Kumar as a "second Gandhi" drew criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well. Kuntal Krishna, a spokesperson for the BJP in the state, characterized the comparison as "despicable," suggesting that likening Nitish Kumar to Mahatma Gandhi is inappropriate.
Krishna went on to point out that Nitish Kumar had been opposing Lalu Yadav for three decades, but for the sake of the Prime Minister's post, he had now aligned himself with Lalu. This prompted Krishna to describe the Bihar Chief Minister as "the most opportunistic leader in the country's political landscape." The exchange of opinions and the contrasting views on Nitish Kumar's portrayal as a modern-day Gandhi highlight the complexity of political dynamics in Bihar.
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