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Nitish Kumar’s JD-U responsible for Maharashtra fiasco?

“Prashant Kishor le duba (Prashant Kishor landed him in trouble),” was how tweeted senior BJP leader Priti Gandhi who happens to be the national in-charge of the Social Media and party’s women cell. Although she didn’t elaborate much, her message directly blames the JD-U for the Maharashtra crisis.

Nitish Kumar’s JD-U responsible for Maharashtra fiasco?

NCP chief Sharad Pawar interacts with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray (File Photo: IANS)

Is the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) headed by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar responsible for the Maharashtra fiasco? The question is being hotly debated in the political circles following a tweet by a senior BJP leader who blamed poll strategist Prashant Kishor for the Maharashtra deadlock. Kishor presently happens to be the national vice-president of the JD-U.

“Prashant Kishor le duba (Prashant Kishor landed him in trouble),” was how tweeted senior BJP leader Priti Gandhi who happens to be the national in-charge of the Social Media and party’s women cell. Although she didn’t elaborate much, her message directly blames the JD-U for the Maharashtra crisis.

What is further strange, she has got the support from none other than senior JD-U leader and former party spokesperson Dr Ajay Alok over the matter. “There is a master strategist who gave lessons in politics to the Shiv Sena for some time. The result is for everyone to see….neither here nor there. Gaflat mein sab gaye-Na Maya mili na Ram,” tweeted Alok in a subtle attack on his party strategist Kishor. Alok further stated that many people are set to face the consequences in the days to come simply because of this poll strategist.

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Although they have not explained much on this topic, sources close to them say the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray apparently changed his mind and set the condition for 50-50 formula to rule Maharashtra apparently on the advice of Kishor. The move not only ended the three-decade-old alliance between the two parties but also kept the Sena away from power. The state is currently under Presidents’ rule after no party could prove the majority.

The prime reason behind their apprehension, reports said, was the Sena chief’s meeting with Kishor. Local media has reported how Uddhav Thackeray had held his first meeting with Kishor in February this year for seeking help in chalking out a poll strategy for his party. Since then Sena had been in constant touch with the JD-U poll strategist.

The Shiv Sena had fought the elections in alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra and the NDA had gained simply majority in the House. While BJP won 105 seats, the Sena got 56. However, the Sena remained adamant on an equal share of the chief minister’s throne, leading to the break-up.

Political experts now say the Maharashtra fiasco is most likely to affect Bihar where assembly elections are due next year. The JD-U has already got a clear hint of this when the BJP refused to enter into an alliance with Kumar’s party in poll-bound Jharkhand. The result is that both the alliance partners are now contesting against each other in the Jharkhand poll arena this time which was not the case earlier.

As the chink between the two partners widens, the JD-U has now suggested the BJP form a coordination committee to work in proper coordination. “The formation of the coordination committee will end the communication gap among the allies and cement unity among them,” JD-U’s national general secretary KC Tyagi has demanded. He also sought for preparing a joint manifesto of the NDA for better political gains. The BJP, however, is yet to react over the matter.

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