Nitish Kumar's Hindutva Alignment To Benefit From Modi's Welfare Policies

News18

17-07-2025

Last Updated:
Realising that in current circumstances Hindutva-backed campaign is NDA's best bet in the polls, Kumar would want to be mascot for it rather than allow BJP take centre-stage
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may well be taking the guard for one last time in an electoral battle when the state goes to polls later this year. A master political schemer, Kumar has managed a 'pendulum style' politics swaying between hard-boiled Socialist caste-based politics and soft Hindutva agenda.
In the past quarter of a century, Kumar has managed, whether with the left-of-centre conundrum or right-of-centre Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to maintain a progressive profile for his government.
He has contested in alliance with the BJP on five occasions (2000, February 2005 and November 2010 and 2020), however, during every campaign, he always remained, at least in public perception, distant from the Hindutva agenda of its alliance partner the BJP.
This 'distance' had allowed him to take divorce from the BJP and enter into an electoral alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress in 2015, winning the polls. However, he later eloped with the mandate and formed a government with the BJP.
Similarly, after winning the 2020 polls in alliance with the BJP, he bolted with the mandate and formed government with RJD-Congress, only to return back to his first suitor.
However, this time around, there are clear indications that Kumar is entering the poll arena somewhat wedded (how strongly only time would tell) to the right-of-centre ideology. His party – Janata Dal (United) — in the past one year has supported the Centre on the crucial issue of Waqf (Amendment) Bill and later supported the government's diplomatic initiatives post-Operation Sindoor.
What has put an affirmative stamp on his right-of-centre tilt is last Sunday's unveiling of the final design for the grand Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi. This initiative is justly seen by many as a strategic move to align with the Hindutva agenda, aiming to consolidate support among Hindu voters by emphasising cultural and religious heritage.
Is this a departure by Nitish Kumar from his traditional campaign in the strongholds of Extremely Backward castes, Mahadalit communities, a large section of forward caste communities and a section of the Muslim voters? Not truly, this could be a move by the Machiavellian politician to cast his shadow over the votes which have moved to the BJP over the past 11 years thanks to several socio-economic policies of Modi government.
By championing the Janaki Temple project, a venture of significant religious importance at the birthplace of Goddess Sita, Kumar is attempting to transcend caste lines and appeal to a broader Hindu electorate. He seeks to position Janaki Temple as a counterpart to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, thus placing himself as 'no less a Hindu' than his BJP counterparts.
The government's plan includes the development of a 151-foot-high temple structure, broad walkways, extensive green landscaping, and facilities like 'Sita-Vatika' and 'Luv-Kush Vatika' to enhance the mystical and creative experience for devotees. The Bihar government has appointed the same Noida-based firm, which was associated in the Ayodhya Ram Temple project, as the design consultant for the planned Janaki Temple.
This Hindutva orientation has become all the more necessary because of the aggressive assault launched by the opposition on Kumar's long-time dividend-paying progressive agenda. RJD's Chief Ministerial face Tejashwi Yadav has accused Kumar of replicating the BJP's Hindutva agenda without genuine commitment to religious or cultural development. He has claimed that such projects are being used to distract from pressing issues such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of infrastructure.
There is reason to see some truth in what Yadav is saying. However, this alignment on Hindutva agenda is also focussed at Kumar dominating campaign narrative. Unlike the 2020 polls, he would not want to emerge as runner-up to the BJP within the alliance.
Realising full well that in the current circumstances Hindutva-backed campaign is NDA's best bet in the upcoming polls, Kumar would want to be the mascot for it rather than allow a BJP leader take the centre stage on the matter. He would want a perception to build that Hindu voters who list religious and cultural identity in their political considerations voted for NDA not despite Kumar but for Kumar.
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 24, 2025, 16:30 IST
News opinion Opinion | Nitish Kumar's Hindutva Alignment To Benefit From Modi's Welfare Policies
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.