by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Amit Shah's retreat is a “Tactical Shift”
Condemning “Goli Maaro” remark aimed at Bihar polls
Nitish, Paswan had sounded alarm bells
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Feb 14
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's disapproval of remarks by BJP's motormouths after the humiliating defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls is a not a change of heart of the party but a “tactical shift”. Even this tactical shift is temporary keeping in mind the immediate political necessity looming large in Bihar.
The Assembly elections in Bihar are due to be held within the next six months where the BJP is a junior partner to Janata Dal (U). To top it all, the Lok Jantrantrik Party (LJP) of Ram Vilas Paswan will also not align with the BJP if it kept its own hate agenda in Bihar.
Therefore, Amit Shah poured waters by condemning “Goli Maaro and India-Pakistan match” remarks by sitting Lok Sabha MPs and ministers in the Modi government.
Insiders say that the public condemnation, three days after the defeat, was made publicly by Shah after allies in Bihar raised alarm bells. The BJP leadership is aware that the party is a junior partner in Bihar and neither Janata Dal (U) nor LJP will compromise on the issue.
Though Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar entered into an alliance with the BJP on two Assembly seats in Delhi and campaigned with Amit Shah, he was extremely uncomfortable with the hard-line Hindutva campaigning by the BJP leaders. Nitish Kumar is considered “Susashan Babu” in Bihar and able to defeat Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD due to his performance and keeping the minorities on his side to some extent. He would not allow the BJP to pursue its agenda of hate or polarised campaigning in the state.
Since Assembly polls are due in Bihar in six months from now, Amit Shah knows more than anybody else that if the BJP is to align with JD (U), its Hindutva agenda won't work in the state.
Secondly, LJP president Chirag Paswan has already issued a tacit warning to the BJP leaders that no “hate speeches” will be allowed in Bihar. His father Ram Vilas Paswan shared stage with BJP leaders during the Delhi Assembly polls and was seen extremely uncomfortable with the BJP's political discourse. Instead of Ram Vilas Paswan making a remark against the BJP, he has fielded his son to issue a statement against the BJP leaders who made the hate speeches.
It is in this background that Amit Shah, being an astute politician, smoked the peace pipe. But Amit Shah's dilution of stand is temporary and once Bihar elections are over in August, the BJP will go back to its own agenda in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry where Assembly polls are due in April 2021.
