Nitish’s modern and RJD chief Lalu Prasad had launched the e book at a perform which was attended by the Bihar chief minister’s school associates Arun Sinha, Narendra Singh and Kaushal Kishore Mishra in Patna.
Affect of socialist icons
A lot of Nitish’s welfare programmes had been influenced by socialist icons Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur, the e book says.
“One in all unfulfilled wishes of Karpoori Thakur was caste census. Nitish Kumar was conscious of it. When Nitish Kumar grew to become a minister for the primary time in1990, he was allotted a home close to Teen Murti close to Chankayapuri on Round Highway. There have been three-four ‘kothis’ (mansion) on this street, however he was not conscious of neighbours.
“At some point, considered one of his workers knowledgeable him {that a} neighbour needs to satisfy him. Nitish mentioned, ‘In Bihar, no one takes permission to satisfy his neighbour. There isn’t any requirement of any formal request. At any time when he needs to satisfy, he can come’,” the creator writes.
Nitish inquired in regards to the occupant of No. 4 kothi and was knowledgeable that it was none apart from former president Giani Zail Singh. Quickly, he went over to Singh’s residence and sat down for a chat.
“Zail Singh advised to me that I put stress on Parliament to hunt a nationwide caste census. I had by no means heard a view with such readability on this urgent subject besides Lohia. Quickly after I began work to place stress to demand a caste census although dialogue in Parliament and writing letters. I used to be inspired after listening to Giani Zail Singh’s views on caste census, which made my views extra robust to deal with this subject,” the author quotes Nitish as saying.
Earlier than he entered the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1982, Zail Singh was the Punjab chief minister from 1972 to 1977. The Congress veteran — the seventh president of India — got here from the Ramgarhia backward neighborhood.
The Bihar chief minister, in the meantime, is of the opinion that there was large demographic modifications in 90 years and that if a caste census takes place, there might be modifications in reservation too.
It was below Nitish that the Bihar meeting handed resolutions in 2019 and 2020, requesting the Centre to carry the 2021 Census on the premise of caste. In August 2021, he led a delegation that met the prime minister to press for a caste census. Bihar then launched a caste-based survey in January this yr, nevertheless it was placed on interim keep by the Patna Excessive Court docket in Might.
Maverick Lalu
The author presents in depth particulars of Lalu, his public life and, extra importantly, the connection with Nitish that dates again to 4 a long time when the 2 met in Patna College.
‘In 1991, Patna grew to become essentially the most watched seat for the Lok Sabha polls. Lalu was the chief minister. (I.Ok.) Gujral filed his nomination as Janata Dal candidate whereas Yashwant Sinha was candidate from Chandra Sekhar’s Janta Dal Secular. C.P. Thakur was contesting on Congress ticket. Shailendra Nath Srivastava was the sitting MP from the BJP. For Lalu, it grew to become a status to make sure Gujral’s win. Lalu deployed each trick to win this seat,” Mishra writes.
“Patna has a large variety of Kayastha voters. There have been two Kayastha candidates — Sinha and Srivastva. Thakur was a famend physician. Gujral was thought-about a light-weight candidate. … It was Lalu who discovered methods in tough conditions. He sought votes claiming that Gujral is from Gujjar neighborhood and that in Punjab, Yadav known as Gujjar,” it provides.
After complaints of ballot malpractices, Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan countermanded the election in Patna however the information didn’t discover prominence in dailies because it got here within the wake of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, the e book says.
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When Sharad Yadav confronted Nitish’s ire
Amongst different aspects of Nitish current within the biography is his fervour of championing points regarding ladies.
“When the ladies’s reservation invoice was launched, Mulayam and Lalu had been in opposition to reservation whereas (JD(U) president) Sharad Yadav was additionally expressing his views in opposition to the invoice. After I met Nitish Kumar on 6 March (in 1996), he was on a name with Sharad Yadav. Nitish advised Sharad: ‘Change your outlook about ladies. Girls are usually not objects. Girls in lots of sense are much better than males. They solely want one alternative. That is the time to write down historical past and fulfil Lohia’s dream. I cannot come into ineffective debate on this subject. Our social gathering will assist this invoice’. He then hanged the telephone. Neither his tone was robust, nor he used harsh language — however the message was clear,” the author recollects.
On 13 September 1996, Mishra writes, Nitish in his speech talked about that his social gathering was “prepared for any sacrifice” to provide rights to ladies and added that the rights of these from backward lessons also needs to be taken care of.
On Bihar’s journey of turning into a dry state, the e book mentions: “The seed of Nitish’s prohibition order was laid in his early years after seeing the situation of ladies. As soon as throughout his Janta Darbar, some ladies met Nitish to convey to his discover their distress as their husbands used to beat them after consuming. Even his previous expertise made the resolve stronger when Nitish’s jija (brother-in-law) used to drink and he needed to hearken to him. These items moved Nitish to implement prohibition within the state.”
‘Noticed his childhood in PK’
Prashant Kishor’s bonhomie with Nitish was as soon as speak of Bihar politics in 2015 and their ties blossomed additional when the ballot analyst joined the JD(U), grew to become its vice-president and was made advisor to the Bihar chief minister.
The e book provides perception to less-known particulars of this camaraderie that later ended on a bitter be aware with PK’s exit from JD(U) in February, 2020.
“Prashant Kishor, who dealt with the JD(U) marketing campaign within the 2015 meeting election quickly after coming to Patna, stayed with Nitish in his home,” it mentions, including that he grew to become shut with the CM’s previous pal Kaushal Kishore Mishra.
“Prashant began the marketing campaign of Har Ghar Dastak at 10,000 locations in 2015. Even Nitish Kumar visited 20 homes in Patna to achieve out to individuals. This was a brand new manner of campaigning began by Prashant Kishor. Nitish was desperate to implement Sapt Kranti in governance after the election verdict. Nitish, Kaushal, Kishor had performed brainstorming to launch the brand new programme of governance. Nitish selected the identify of Saat Nischay, because it was coined at 7, Round Highway — his residence — by seven individuals,” it says.
“After the lead to 2015, Lalu received 80 seats whereas JD(U) received 71. The RJD was eyeing a much bigger chunk of departments. After realising his previous errors, Nitish began to make use of Prashant to cope with Lalu. Even Lalu was keen on Prashant as he used to satisfy with full preparations to persuade him,” the author recollects.
“As is his nature, Nitish was not vocal, however he was making an attempt to provide Prashant due respect with out the latter’s data. An settlement was arrived at in Mahagathbandhan to provide Prashant the submit of cupboard minister, however his expectation was huge. RJD was aiming for deputy CM’s submit. Prashant was additionally aiming for the same submit from JD(U). Nitish was nicely conscious of Prashant’s functionality, however his opinion was to make use of Prashant for growth of the social gathering in numerous states.
“He wished Prashant to begin constructing the organisation from Jharkhand, however PK was least . Nitish was concerned about making Prashant his political inheritor. In Prashant, he typically noticed his previous. He began to take Prashant in each perform. Prashant used to sit down together with Nitish in each perform which irritated many senior leaders. He even took Prashant to his native Kalyan Bigha village on his father’s demise anniversary… however Prashant was adamant and never concerned about growth work of the social gathering. They later each fell out,” the biography reveals.
Beni Prasad Verma really helpful RCP to Nitish
One other love-hate relationship that includes RCP Singh, too, finds point out within the e book that provides vivid particulars of how Nitish met with the previous bureaucrat-turned-politician, courtesy Samajwadi Occasion chief Verma.
“When Nitish got here to Delhi in railway (ministry), it was Beni Prasad Verma — considered one of seniormost Kurmi leaders from UP — who really helpful RCP to Nitish. Quickly, he (RCP) grew to become considered one of shut associates of Nitish. He was working because the chief secretary and was thought-about his Sudarshan Chakra, however earlier than the 2009 Lok Sabha election, RCP expressed his need to battle the election from Nalanda,” it says.
Nitish was nervous as he felt that he needed to dedicate extra time to marketing campaign in Nalanda to make sure Singh’s win, it provides.
“…even RCP’s spouse Girija Devi was placing a lot stress (on Nitish) for a ballot ticket. Finally, it was determined that Nitish will ship him to the Rajya Sabha and on 8 July 2010, RCP took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP. Nitish despatched him for a second time period in 2016. Nitish was so assured that he made him the JD(U) nationwide president however RCP disillusioned him. He nominated himself for a cupboard berth because the president of the social gathering,” the e book says.
There was a rising suspicion that he was working for the BJP and finally he was denied Rajya Sabha ticket, it provides.
Singh resigned from the social gathering in August 2022 and later joined the BJP in Might subsequent yr. Whereas becoming a member of the ruling social gathering, the one-time Nitish confidant slammed the Bihar chief minister as ‘palti maar’.
”No minister takes a lot curiosity within the private lifetime of his secretary. As soon as RCP in 2003 received admitted in Delhi railway hospital. Nitish was so impatient that a number of nights, he went to see him in hospital. He even stayed again one evening to supervise his situation. Nitish was the railway minister at the moment in Vajpayee authorities,” the author recollects.
Film buff & avid newspaper reader
“Our love of watching movies began in school. I’ve seen ‘Mere Mehboob’ 11 occasions, Nitish 3 occasions at the very least. We’ve got seen Raj Kapoor starrer ‘Andaz’, however Nitish appreciated Raj Kapoor’s ‘Teesri Kasam’ essentially the most,” the BSDMA vice-chairman recollects.
Narrating the CM’s fondness of films, Mishra mentions two incidents from 2009 and 2010. “On 2nd March 2009, EC introduced dates for the Lok Sabha polls. The mannequin code of conduct was carried out. Nitish had heard in regards to the movie (Slumdog Millionaire). Because the code was in place, he was not ready to make use of an official automotive for private work. So, he took a rickshaw. After watching the movie, he known as his associates to inform them to observe the movie.”
The subsequent yr in January, he went along with his associates to observe Aamir Khan’s movie 3 Idiots, the author provides. ”After watching 3 Idiots, he launched Kaushal (Kishore Mishra), Arun (Sinha) and himself as three idiots to reporters current exterior the cinema corridor.”
Giving particulars of Nitish’s behavior of studying newspapers, Mishra narrates: “Nitish’s fondness for newspapers is particular. If anyone touches the newspaper earlier than him, his temper will get disturbed. He wants a recent piece of all the bundle. He reads all the newspaper, has least curiosity in studying about himself. He solely searches for complaints, or the place he finds fault in governance.”
This, the e book provides, is adopted by phone calls to officers concerning the complaints he learn within the newspapers.
Different lesser recognized information revealed by the buiography included Nitish’s dislike of meals cooked exterior and his love of potato dishes.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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