Bihar’s politically influential ‘Luv-Kush’ (Kurmi-Koeri) equation was on display in Patna on Sunday when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary to congratulate the latter’s father, veteran leader Shakuni Chaudhary, on his 90th birthday.
On the occasion, Nitish Kumar reminisced about old times with Shakuni Chaudhary and praised his political contributions. He also spoke highly of Samrat Chaudhary, describing him as an energetic leader who works hard and is likely to go far in politics.
Speaking to the media, Shakuni Chaudhary referred to the ‘Luv-Kush’ political equation, stating that the social and political alliance was once formed to dislodge Lalu Yadav from power, with Nitish Kumar playing a key role in its formation.
He said that George Fernandes was at the helm during that period and that the seeds sown then are now bearing fruit. Expressing satisfaction, he noted that leaders from the Luv and Kush communities today hold the positions of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
Formed in the mid-1990s to challenge Lalu Yadav’s perceived promotion of Yadav interests, the caste equation provided Nitish Kumar with a strong political base and an alternative to Lalu’s ‘MY’ (Muslim-Yadav) formula. Both communities have remained strongly aligned with Nitish Kumar and have played a significant role in keeping him in power over the past two decades, often voting as a bloc and influencing upper-caste representation in legislative assemblies.
However, the dynamics of the alliance have shifted in recent times, with the BJP attempting to woo these communities by projecting Samrat Chaudhary in a prominent role.