Nitish to enter Parliament to build front against Modi, as Lalu extends support

Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is likely to enter Parliament through the Rajya Sabha. With Nitish Kumar taking the reins of the Janata Deal United after relinquishing the post of Bihar chief minister in the aftermath of his party's massive debacle, he may opt for the Rajya Sabha to not only coordinate better with his party MPs but also other like-minded parties.

Nitish Kumar and JDU President Sharad Yadav, who lost from Madhepura to his Rashtriya Janata Dal rival Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, are likely to be the party's candidate for Rajya Sabha elections. With 117 MLAs in Bihar Assembly, JDU can easily send two candidates to the Rajya Sabha.

Three Rajya Sabha candidates from Bihar have won the recent Lok Sabha elections. They are Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajiv Pratap Singh Rudy and Ram Kripal Yadav, and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

JDU sources say that Nitish Kumar's move is aimed at ensuring better coordination of non-National Democratic Alliance parties in the Rajya Sabha where the BJP-led alliance is in minority.

Sources also say that he has already started analysing the Lok Sabha results and the reasons behind JDU’s rout. He will also meet all JDU Lok Sabha candidates for their feedback and to identify the problem areas. All district and other units of the party will also be involved in the entire process to ensure better coordination and implementation of the plan for the Assembly election which are due in October-November 2015.

A major overhaul of the JDU state leadership is also likely with special emphasis on the Mahadalits, other backward castes and women. Nitish Kumar has already sent out a strong signal to the Mahadalits by making his close aide Jeetan Ram Manjhi, who comes from the Musahar sub-caste, as the new Bihar Chief Minister.

BJP is also eyeing one Rajya Sabha berth to accommodate its losing Lok Sabha candidate Shahnawaz Hussain, who was defeated by Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal, in Parliament through the Rajya Sabha route.

But the situation is not at all rosy for RJD chief Lalu Prasad whose party has only 21 MLAs in Bihar and cannot ensure the win of any of its candidate without the support of either the JDU or BJP.

While Lalu has been the most virulent BJP opponent, he is likely to adopt a much softer approach towards the JDU following the Narendra Modi wave that has swept the state. RJD leaders have been in touch with the JDU following the debacle both parties suffered in the Lok Sabha elections.

Lalu is keen to send either his wife Rabri Devi or daughter Misa Bharti to the Rajya Sabha and ensure that he has a foothold in Parliament. Rabri has lost in Saran to BJP's Rajiv Pratap Singh Rudy while Misa took the second spot behind another BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav in Pataliputra.