Instead, it is the obsession for the populist politics and his yearning for the highest political office that made him to project himself as the crusader against booze. Master craftsman of the politics knows that extreme steps and tough actions often pay off handsomely. In his quest to project himself as the public face of the secular forces and a potent challenger to Narendra Modi, hurting and insulting Lalu or taking extreme steps are no problem for Nitish. The craving is so acute that he has asked the officials to incorporate the provision in the proposed Act that prohibition is applicable in the privacy of home and sleuths would actually enter into people’s bedrooms.

What does it imply? Obviously, Nitish is willing to go overboard, trample the private life of a citizen simply on the basis of suspicion. Nitish would not prefer to stake the survival of his government but he is certainly trying to give an impression that he was so concerned of the welfare of the poor that he was ready to annoy his elder brother Lalu.

Interestingly, Nitish was trying to push Lalu on defensive. This is the reason that he has been resorting to the populist measures notwithstanding objections from architect of the grand alliance Lalu Yadav. A couple of days back, Lalu even advised Nitish to “step back” and see the rationale behind his actions. Lalu spoke candidly against Nitish’s move and the stringent new prohibition Act; “As far as I know, there is not going to be any law that provides for the arrest of all adult members of a family where a liquor consumer is caught. How can the police catch my adult son if I am caught consuming liquor?”

Lalu pooh-poohed; 'I have not heard of any such statement'.

True enough, most of the senior RJD leaders are against this move of Nitish. RJD leaders on the face of Nitish termed as 'draconian' the provision in the Bill asking for arrest and prosecution of all adult members in a family if liquor is found in the house or any resident is found guilty of the offence.

Nevertheless, Nitish has conceded the toddy space to Lalu. On Saturday, the cabinet endorsed the proposal to keep the toddy out of the ambit of ban. Earlier Lalu had demanded that there should be no ban on toddy. 'The rule which was framed during my regime will stay,' he had demanded. Politically, the ban is a strategic move of Nitish to win over three crore women electorate. Little doubt the opposition from Lalu Yadav would eventually jeopardize his plan. Lalu would not cherish to provide opportunity to Nitish to build his base amongst backward caste and dalit women.

The RJD feels Nitish is 'overplaying' the anti-liquor drive. RJD holds that the poor would be worst hit by misuse of the law's provisions, and called for its review. Earlier, senior RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh had criticised the Nitish government for trying to bring in 'police raj' in the name of prohibition. A close confidant of Lalu confided: 'Already it is the poor who suffer because of the existing liquor laws. They are used as carriers of illegal liquor bottles and arrested. I am receiving complaints that the police are misusing the laws to extort money.'

He said the RJD supported the prohibition bill in the Assembly to 'honour' a promise Nitish had made before the polls.'But the chief minister is suddenly obsessed with prohibition, as if other things do not matter.” RJD leaders are confident that the move would not pay electoral dividends to Nitish.

The voice of dissent has also come from the Congress. Its MLA Shakeel Ahmad Khan has called for wider consultations before such tough measures are introduced. It is widely felt that the clauses of the new law on booking family members would not stand scrutiny if challenged in court

As if opposition to the prohibition was not enough, Lalu Yadav pushed across a new agenda for reservation in government jobs for local youth and issue of domicile. Certainly, the demand is not illogical, but it is undoubtedly out of context.

Though Nitish supported Lalu Yadav Prasad, he tried to escape the initiative by putting the onus on Modi government. He said that the Centre should intervene in the issue and make some concrete arrangement.

Lalu said the Bihar government should immediately make a necessary change in its quota policy and other related laws to reserve at least 80 per cent seats for locals, irrespective of caste, in all categories of government jobs.

Nitish, and for that matter Lalu, must realise the consequence of such demands. Truth is Bihar does not have enough good job opportunities which could entice the youths from other states. No doubt some private companies have engaged ”experienced” employees from other states. With a dismal growth potential and complete absence of jobs in the industrial sector as it is virtually non-existent, it is beyond comprehension what is the rationale of coming out with such demand.

On the contrary, the Bihari youths are in commanding position in other states. True enough, this has infuriated the MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his cadres had launched agitation against the Bihari youths in Mumbai.

This demand is simply a mechanism to shirk off the moral responsibility by the alliance leadership. Strange enough, Nitish tried to justify himself: “Demand for reservation of local youths in government jobs is picking momentum in different parts of the country as well.” But this nature of demand is being raised in the states where jobs are in plenty. Not in Bihar where there is compete dearth of jobs.

Nitish said: “I and my party are very much in favour that residents of Bihar too should get preference in employment in state jobs… we’re thinking of a domicile policy”. Instead of keeping the promise and meeting the aspiration of the youths, the government is simply giving rise to an atmosphere of uncertainty and passing off the responsibility on Centre.

Lalu Yadav’s demand for a domicile policy for the state that would ensure 80 per cent job quota for Biharis has got support from all the political parties. Lalu's comments have triggered a debate over the contentious issue which is similar to what Raj Thackeray has demanded for Marathis. In fact the Bihar leaders have borrowed the domicile issue from Jharkhand to pep up their social support base. Bihar must create enough jobs to hold back youths from migrating to other states.

It is significant of late Nitish is having strained relations with the RJD. The bonhomie and mutual admiration between Lalu and Nitish appears to have hit the road block. This is perceptible in the case of even running the state government. While Nitish has been targeting Mulayam, his big brother Lalu has thrown his weight behind Mulayam.

Both Lalu and Nitish have different agendas to pursue and in order to be in power, they need to compromise on their original positions. Nitish is used to absolute power. With the emergence of Lalu as de facto CM, officials train their eyes and ears to the words from Lalu. (IPA Service)