Published 13:15 IST, September 3rd 2019
Nitish Kumar launches Bihar 2020 poll slogan, RJD says 'you're doomed'
Nitish Kumar's party has introduced a new slogan for the 2020 assembly elections. The slogan means Bihar does not needs to think as Nitish is right for it.
Amidst reports of internal tussle between the BJP and Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led Janta Dal United (JDU), the latter seems to be on its way to prepare for the 2020 assembly elections. Nitish Kumar's party has introduced a new slogan for the state elections that are scheduled next year. With Nitish Kumar being the face yet again, the party has modified the earlier election campaign slogan with a new slogan meaning Bihar does not needs to think as Nitish is right for it. The new slogan states: "Kyun Kare Vichar, Thikke toh hai Nitish Kumar." (Why to think, Nitish Kumar is good.)
RJD criticises JDU on its new slogan
As the party introduced its new slogan, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD criticised Nitish Kumar. Highlighting that the word 'thikke' (fine) means its 'kaam chalau' (somethings that works somehow), RJD said that now the people of Bihar will not compromise and will vote for a youth with vision. Although RJD hinted to its leader Tejashwi Yadav, he has himself been away from the active political scene after his party's drubbing in general elections 2019. The RJD also wrote a four line poetry critisising the poster. It said: "Bihar has decided. They don't want Kumar who praises himself. You can decide for yourself. Take retirement and go to Tihar."
Tussle between JDU and BJP
The 2015 election campaign slogan of JDU given by Prashant Kishor, the then poll strategist and current vice president of the party was "Bihar me bahar hai, Nitishe Kumar hai" (Its glorious in Bihar because of Nitish Kumar). He was in November 2018 appointed the vice president of the party. In general elections 2019, the JDU won 16 out of the 40 seats and its alliance partners BJP and LJP won 17 and 6 respectively. Although the JDU claims that the victory was largely scripted due to Kumar's face, the BJP did not include any of the JDU MP's in their cabinet. This reportedly marked the beginning of the internal tussle between the two alliance partners. Following the formation of the new cabinet, JDU has opposed its own alliance partner in Triple Talaq Bill and has not voted for the abrogation of Article 370 .
Prashant Kishor's role in JDU
Prashant Kishor, known for strategising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 victory was appointed as vice president of JD(U). Additionally his team of poll strategist worked for YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh for the assembly and general elections 2019. They brought a landslide victory for Jagan Mohan Reddy. In the past, Kishor engineered the poll campaign in Punjab for Captain Amarinder Singh and in 2015 worked for JD(U) when the party was a part of Mahagathbandhan.
After joining the JDU before the lok sabha polls, Kishor stroke controversy when Lalu Yadav's party accused him of being the emissary for Nitish Kumar, requesting the RJD to let Kumar return to the Mahagathbandhan. He then slammed the RJD and stated that Lalu Prasad would be embarrassed if their meeting details are revealed. After the elections, in a sensational development Kishor's poll strategy team was reported to work for Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool in West Bengal, creating ripples in the BJP. While the BJP and TMC are bitter rivals, Nitish Kumar stated that Kishor's team is his personal affair. He is also reported to work for Shiv Sena in Maharashtra assembly polls. Kishor is known for scripting a leader centric campaign and for making party anthems that catches the nerve of the people in the particular state. Below is the Nitish Kumar's campaign song from 2015:
Updated 14:42 IST, September 3rd 2019