He also made it clear that he would not accept any offer from Modi for his MPs joining his government. This testimonial dig reflected the nature of the hurt Modi and his Chanakya have inflicted on him. But an insight into the past events made it abundantly clear that this was to happen anyway.

Nitish feels cheated was also evident from his retort; "votes in Bihar were not polled in the name of any personality and no one should have any confusion that the victory which was registered by NDA in Bihar was actually the victory of the people of Bihar. If somebody is tries to project this victory as his personal achievement then he is certainly under illusion."

After the Lok Sabha results were announced on May 23 and JD(U) won 16 seats an impression had gathered in the JD(U) leadership that they would be offered not less than three ministerial berths. On the D-day Narendra Modi offered a single cabinet spot for his party. No doubt it came like an electric shock to him. Nitish who is seen as the most shrewd politician had not imagined even in his dreams that he would be betrayed by Amit Shah.

In fact Amit during his discussion with Nitish on representation in the Modi government had made it clear that one ministerial berth would be given to each ally. But Amit had given the impression that they would try to honour his desire. Nevertheless Nitish had told Amit Shah that the BJP's offer was unacceptable to his party, and that allies should be given "proportional representation", not "symbolic representation".

Nitish Kumar emphasized,"We told the BJP if they really wanted to give only symbolic representation, then there was no need for it. A real share in the government should be proportional representation. We formed an alliance for the sake of Bihar. We have no wish for symbolic shares”. However instead of straining his relations at this stage, Nitish played safe for the time being with assertion “We are with you anyway".

Through this the BJP infact wanted to send the message that in the 2020 Bihar assembly election Nitish would not be the public face of party and the bjp would go to the polls on its own.

Angry at Amit Shah’s move Nitish refused to accept any such offer even in future. The primary task before Nitish is to maintain his public posture and image. The fact of the matter is like the mahagathbandhan partners, Nitish too is scared of the BJP gain. With BJP gaining immense strength Nitish has further become cautious of their approach and moves.

When the elections were announced the political condition and situation was not at all congenial for the BJP. Even the saffrom party could not comprehend that it would bag such massive number of seats. Had they knew of the impending scenario they must have given 17 seats on platter to contest. With 16 members Nitish can create problems for Modi.

BJP which till recently has been playing backward caste card, has made a strategic change in its policy. It has mainly depended on forward castes and even has inducted five upper caste members in the bacinet. This is also a warning to Nitish. The B JP in order to grab the 15 per cent upper cse support base of Congress and emerge as thre major political outfit in the state would mainly depend on the upper castes.

This has even endangered the position of leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi, the backward face amongst the top state leaders. If the murmurings and rumours are to be believed that party is also contemplating to bring in an upper caste leader as state president in place of Nityanand Rai, a bhumihar who has been inducted in the government.

The BJP has been focusing on emerging as the sole nationalist party. It wants to win over the upper caste from Congress and other parties. It is interesting to watch that this time has inducted upper caste members in the cabinet. The message is obvious. The leadership nurses the feeling that there is no need for appeasing Muslims and other backward castes.

The worst victim of this strategy of the party would be the deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, a backward caste leader. In fact for some time the state BJP has been witness to rumblings inside on the issue of status of the upper castes in the party. Some time back some upper caste leaders had resorted to hunger strike and had also sent a delegation to Delhi to apprise the leaders of the ground situation prevailing in the party.

It was alleged that some backward leaders for their own interest wre pushing the party to the backwsard trap. It was pointed out that BJP if at all has to survive in Bihar must reactivate its upper caste support base. The backwards caste would not prefer to desert the RJD and others.

Realising this trend and mood of the people Nitish too has been working on this line. His emphasis to induct Rajiv Ranjan a minister is motivated by this political line. True enough BJP does not intend to fall in this trap of Nitish.(IPA Service)