How a cancelled dinner changed the course of Bihar politics

It was just before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, chief minister Nitish Kumar had created a flutter in political circles by saying his party would support the party that gives Bihar a special category status. He had made this statement when Nitish was very much part of the NDA that had been peaking in Bihar with its turnaround story and almost unassailable social combination achieved by the NDA. Arun Jaitley had termed it a "rainbow coalition" during an informal chat with the media at a Patna hotel during those days to explain how upper caste, OBCs, EBCs and some sections of Dalits had come into the NDA fold.

Nitish Kumar's statement was a stunner for the BJP. This was the first time Nitish had hinted at unease after the 2005 polls. Yet, it was very faint and not easily decipherable. The 2009 Lok Sabha poll result also did not warrant a situation for the UPA to seek the support of Nitish's 20 MPs. The Assembly election in Bihar was just a year away and practical Nitish Kumar did not do or say anything that would sour his relations with BJP. Plus, Lalu Prasad had joined the UPA government. The matter rested there.

The June 2010 BJP national executive at Patna made the relationship worse. State BJP leaders Sushil Kumar Modi and Nand Kishore Yadav suggested to Nitish Kumar to host central BJP leaders at the CM house. Nitish agreed, hesitatingly though. Narendra Modi was to attend the BJP meet on the second day. The same day, a Gujarat MP gave an advertisement in the Patna newspapers having the Ludhiana rally picture of Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi holding their hands aloft. Nitish Kumar called Sushil Kumar Modi and Nand Kishore Yadav to Anne Marg.

The two had already reached the national executive venue but apprised Arun Jaitley of Nitish's urgent call and left for the CM residence at around 10 am. The BJP leaders saw Nitish sitting in a serious mood with Cabinet colleagues, Brishen Patel and Bijendra Prasad Yadav. The CM told the two: "This (ad) has been carried out to insult me. I cannot host a dinner under such circumstances". The BJP leaders protested saying the "dinner cancellation would send across a wrong message". Nitish was adamant: "Ye nahi chalega (This is unacceptable)."

The matter was conveyed to Arun Jaitley, who tacitly passed it on to Narendra Modi, who said, "It is ok. I will skip the dinner party." Meanwhile, Nitish came up with a condition in the later part of the day to still host the dinner: "Agar Narendra Modi na aaye, hame koi aapatti nahi (If Narendra Modi does not come, we will have no problem in hosting the dinner)." At this, all top BJP leaders, LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu sat together to discuss it. Sushma Swaraj said: "Is tarah ka nimantran nahi hota. Nimantran me shart nahi rakhi jaati. Jayenge to sab jayenge nahi to koi nahi jayega. (One cannot invite for dinner like this. A condition is not laid in case of invitation. Either all of us will go or no one will go)." Sushil Kumar Modi was asked to convey as much to Nitish Kumar on phone. Around 3 pm, Nitish Kumar confirmed dinner cancellation to his deputy.

While interacting with the media at Chanakya Hotel of Patna the same day, Nitish, who was accompanied by senior party leader Shivanand Tiwari, was livid. "Why do they need to do this? This is completely unwarranted," said Nitish. This was the first public display of Nitish's anger against the BJP, particularly against Narendra Modi. Nitish did not speak the "M" word yet.

Nitish promptly announced the returning of Rs 5 crore cheque Gujarat government had given to Bihar CM relief fund for 2008's devastating Kosi floods. Nitish later said at various fora how he had been ready to resign that day and take a fresh mandate. Nitish Kumar's college day friend Narendra Kumar Singh recalls: "I was with Nitish at the CM House a few days after the dinner cancellation. He was very upset and said it would take 'two minutes (to resign)'. We asked him to calm down and not to entertain such thoughts as the 2010 polls had to be fought together."

(Reprinted with publisher's permission.)