Bihar: Ruling Mahagathbandhan Targets BJP

Patna: In the midst of an ongoing war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government and the opposition Congress over the name of the country, whether it should be India or Bharat, leaders of the three major allies of Bihar's ruling Mahagathbandhan coalition—the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Janata Dal (United) (JD-U), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist Liberation) [CPI(ML)]—have asserted that the saffron party is in a state of desperation and fear regarding the opposition alliance, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). This is a clear example of how the name of the opposition alliance, INDIA, has created panic within the BJP.

Lalan Singh, the national president of JD-U and a close associate of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stated on Wednesday that top BJP leaders are deeply concerned and anxious about the name of the opposition alliance, INDIA, to the extent that they wish to change the name of the country. "The BJP-led government has been attempting to rewrite history. Their objective is clear: to alter the country's history from being associated with Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) to PM Narendra Modi," Singh said.

Singh further mentioned that Kumar had repeatedly warned the public about how the BJP altered the country's history for their vested interests. He remarked, "The BJP-led central government has been engaged in all sorts of theatrics, but it will not make any difference in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The opposition alliance, INDIA, is gaining the trust of the people day by day. The BJP can change any name, but it cannot change the growing dissatisfaction and anger among the people." 

Singh also raised questions about the mystery surrounding the convening of a special session of parliament later this month by the central government. He noted, "According to tradition, the agenda for the special session should be made public before the formal announcement. However, so far, those who will participate in the discussion have no information about the agenda. This is another example of controlling democracy according to their desires."

Another senior JD-U leader and Bihar minister, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, reiterated that it is well-known and widely accepted that India is Bharat and Bharat is India, which is clearly stated in our constitution.

RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav directly targeted the top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including PM Modi, stating that they are afraid of the name of the opposition alliance, INDIA, to the extent that they want to change the country's name from India to Bharat. He said, "Our opposition Alliance INDIA's main slogan is 'Judega Bharat Jitega India.' We champion Bharat, unlike them, who merely dislike the name INDIA."

Yadav further remarked that the BJP-led central government appears to be in a hurry to change the country's name from India to Bharat. Still, he questioned how the government led by Modi intends to remove the name of India from the country's currency, top institutions, and global identity.

The General Secretary of CPI(ML), Dipankar Bhattacharya, expressed his view that after the demonetisation (Notebandi), PM Modi is now conspiring to change the country's name. "The constitution of the country clearly states that India is Bharat. The obsession with changing the country's name will make us a laughingstock," he said.

JD-U and RJD are key allies of the ruling Mahagathbandhan, including the Congress and three Left parties: CPI(ML), CPI(M), and CPI. It is considered a potent political force in Bihar compared to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Recently, three small regional parties also joined the Mahagathbandhan.

The top BJP leadership, including PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, are reportedly concerned about the BJP facing the next election on its own in Bihar. It is one of the states where the saffron party is set to face a significant challenge from the ruling Mahagathbandhan.