What is Nitish Kumar up to? JD(U) leaders in Delhi are surprised and embarrassed by the warmth with which the Bihar chief minister has welcomed Narendra Modi’s demonetisation announcement. Nitish has praised Modi several times for the decision.

And he got JD(U) MP Harivansh to write an article slamming opposition parties as irrational for criticizing demonetisation. Harivansh is believed to be close to Nitish. The final break with the rest of the opposition came over the protest rallies called by non-BJP parties to mark Aakrosh Diwas. Not only did Nitish announce that he would not be a part of the nationwide protests, he even got ally Lalu and sons as well as party leader in Delhi Sharad Yadav to stay away. All this has set off speculation in political circles that Nitish may be trying to mend fences with his erstwhile ally-turned-political-foe, the BJP. JD(U) circles are uncomfortable about reports that a former BJP man who is now a close associate of Nitish has been dropping in at Arun Jaitley’s residence quite frequently. Is he carrying messages from Nitish to Jaitley and vice versa or is he simply reviving his own contacts with the BJP because he himself is planning to jump ship and return to his former party?

Nitish has denied that he wants to return to the NDA fold and played the victim card with allegations that his opponents are indulging in political assassination with such suggestions. But clearly, he is up to something. Tragically, his party seems to have no idea what it is! 

Opportunity missed 

Sonia Gandhi’s bland interview to a leading television channel has left her party disappointed. Congress leaders had hoped that she would be forceful and speak her mind on the Modi government and burning current issues like demonetisation.

This was after all, her first formal media interview after the party’s terrible defeat in 2014. Instead Sonia insisted on speaking only about her mother-inlaw, Indira Gandhi, whose birth centenary year is being celebrated by the Congress. In fact, she began the interview with a clear and firm instruction. “No politics,” she is believed to have warned her interviewers right at the outset. She cleverly evaded all their attempts at drawing her into making political comments.

Many in her party feel that she wasted a good opportunity to take on the Modi government, the BJP and the RSS. 

Tending the flock

 Amit Shah is believed to have persuaded Narendra Modi to address BJP MPs on the demonetisation issue to quieten the rumblings and grumblings in the party. It seems BJP MPs have been restless and anxious about the impact of demonetisation on their voters. Traders and shopkeepers have been loyal core voters of the BJP since its Jan Sangh days. Demonetisation has hit this section the hardest with business falling by as much as 30 per cent. With elections due in UP and Punjab in three months, BJP MPs have been naturally worried about the difficulties being faced by their supporters. While no MP dares criticise the policy, they have been sharing their anxieties among themselves.

Shah seems to have got wind of the mood in the party and is believed to have advised Modi to address the problem urgently before it blows up. Curiously, the PM has been avoiding speaking to his MPs since the winter session of Parliament began even though it is customary for the parliamentary party to meet every week. He finally met his MPs for the first time in the current session earlier this week and effectively silenced them with his tears and an impassioned speech. According to those present at the meeting, MPs were so overwhelmed by the force of Modi’s presentation that not one dared open his mouth. And when Venkaiah Naidu moved a resolution praising Modi for demonetisation, it was passed unanimously with every MP putting aside personal reservations.

An ex-PM

 speaks Who persuaded former prime minister Manmohan Singh to finally speak up demonetisation? It seems Singh had been expressing concern about the negative economic fallout of the manner in which the Modi government has gone about implementing its decision to demonetise 86 per cent of the currency. But he was reluctant to express his views on the floor of the House largely because of his frail health. However, opposition parties, particularly TMC, were keen that he say publicly what he has been saying privately. They felt that criticism from an internationally respected economic heavyweight like Manmohan Singh would give their campaign against demonetisation more bite.

The day before he finally spoke in the Rajya Sabha, the former prime minister was seen in the Rajya Sabha lobby engaged in an animated discussion with some party colleagues. They were obviously strategising. Sources familiar with the development said that Sonia Gandhi too sent a message to Manmohan Singh requesting him to speak. The effect of the strategy session was visible in the Rajya Sabha the next day where Singh turned in a praiseworthy performance despite his obvious ill health. Not only were Congress MPs thrilled by his strong condemnation of Modi’s demonetisation decision, the entire opposition looked happy. Surprisingly, even Modi crossed the chamber floor to speak to Singh personally and thank him for his intervention.