| Published on 10-05-2008 In National | | Viewed 993 times | | Is Nitish Kumar falling into the trap of the personality cult? |
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| Written by
N.R.Mohanty | 
Nitish Kumar's tenure as Bihar's chief minister has reached its half-way mark. It is time we ask: will Nitish Kumar go down in Bihar's history in the same way as Lalu Yadav did? It may be recalled that when Lalu Yadav had completed two and a half years in his first term, he was riding the crest of popularity. Everybody and anybody at that time, except the political opponents, sang paeans to him. Nitish Kumar, then an ally, was euphoric about Yadav's stint at the helm. "Laluji will change the face of Bihar", he had boasted.
Lalu Yadav went on to rule over Bihar for 15 years by deft social engineering, but he certainly did not change the face of Bihar. Bihar's face tragically remained unchanged during his direct and proxy rule. Why and how did it happen have been discussed threadbare by his supporters and opponents alike. But even his ardent admirers would agree that his promises to turn the roads of Bihar as smooth as the cheeks of Hema Malini did not materialize. As a matter of fact, he pushed Bihar further into the Dark Ages. His election symbol – lantern – spoke eloquently about his vision for development for Bihar.
But that is not the case with Nitish Kumar. Travelling in Bihar recently to get a first-hand account of the situation there, one heard from almost all sections, except the usual suspects, that Bihar is on the cusp of developmental progress. Be it doctors, academics, senior citizens or common people – everyone appeared to be a Nitish acolyte. 'Nitishji is sincere. He genuinely wants the uplift of Bihar. And he is working day and night for that purpose' -- this seemed to be the stock response.
Are there any visible improvements since he has taken over? People enthusiastically recounted his achievements: law and order situation has dramatically improved. The kidnappings and murders by the criminal gangs may be going on, but many said that the process of criminalization of politics or politicization of criminals has abated in the Nitish era. Although Nitish Kumar came to power on the support of many criminal-politicians, he has spared no efforts to give the impression that he would not interfere in the prosecution process to benefit his political allies.
This is hugely reassuring for the people of Bihar. They feel safe to venture out in late night, which was unthinkable three years ago. Businessmen say that extortion by self-styled gang leaders which was common before Nitish came to power has come down drastically. There is a feeling that the police have become more responsive to common people as the hierarchical structure of the police department has been restored. Policemen take their orders from their superiors, not from the political henchmen of the chief minister as was the case during Lalu-Rabri era.
The Japanese government might have refused to collaborate with the proposed IIT to be set up in Bihar by citing bad law and order situation in the state, but, for the people of the state, things have improved substantially of late.
Another major promise by the Nitish government has been to build the basic infrastructure which had been sorely lacking in the state even after 60 years of independence. In Bihar, roads were virtually a network of potholes before Nitish Kumar took office. He is trying hard to change the situation. He has undertaken the ambitious task to build black roads that sustain over a period of time and not get washed away in the next monsoon, as had been the case before. He has posted an upright and dynamic officer, R K Singh, as the roads secretary to ensure that the mammoth project does not get bogged down on account of either red-tape or corruption. The results are visible. Good quality roads are coming up with the proviso that the same will be maintained by the contractor for five years after they are opened for use.
Power generation projects have usually a long gestation period but there is an effort to ensure that Bihar becomes self-sufficient in power by the time Nitish Kumar goes to people to seek a mandate for another five years.
While the prospect of roads and electricity are still in the realm of the future, what has been the most tangible achievement in the state so far is in the health sector. Nitish government inherited a state health service which was in ruins. Most of the primary health centres (PHCs) were abandoned ostensibly due to lack of doctors, attendants and medicine. Villagers had to trek to the district hospitals, which were themselves severely ill-equipped, for any semblance of treatment.
Not surprisingly, quacks had a field day in the villages of Bihar.
Nitish Kumar was determined to change this state of affairs. He chose Chandra Mohan Rai, a veteran BJP leader, to steer the health ministry. And Rai took up the challenge with conviction. As an experienced leader, he did not indulge in confrontation with the medical fraternity. Rather he took them into confidence and assured to redress their grievances in return for their support to serve the people. The result was amazing. The minister ensured that medical equipments, medicines and vehicles were made available to doctors and the doctors ensured that they visited the PHCs regularly.
As a result, the footfall in the PHCs increased dramatically, from 10,000 to 3,00,000 in the span of a year. Routine immunization increased from 10 per cent to 43 per cent in a year's time. Some elderly villagers say that they had not come across such medical facility in their life time. Many of them said that there was such an abundant supply of iron tablets that they were able to feed their cattle on a regular basis!
Not surprising that Nitish Kumar showcased the achievements in the health sector as trend-setting. Chandra Mohan Rai was the cynosure of all eyes. He could turn around the health sector because of his sagacity and uprightness. Even his worst enemy could not point an accusing finger at him for malfeasance.
Everyone felt that Nitish Kumar had found in Rai an invaluable political companion to create a Bihar of his dreams. But the dream run was ruptured when the chief minister reshuffled the ministry. Rai was dropped along with some other ministers. It was supposed to be a reshuffle on the parameters of performance. And the best performing minister was sacked! What message did it convey? One could be that the achievements of the health ministry were more of a hoax than real. And Nitish Kumar realized it late.
Another could be that the achievements were real but Chandra Mohan Rai, who received accolades from the chief minister on many platforms, was not the real architect of the turnaround. And Nitish Kumar realised it late. In either case, it reflects poorly on the ability of the chief minister.
Supporters of Nitish Kumar say that the decision to drop Rai was of the BJP's, not the chief minister's. If that was the case, then the decision-making body of the BJP needs to be pitied. The party is surely hurtling downhill!
But even if you keep aside the question of dropping of ministers, still another question remains: why did the chief minister change the portfolios of all cabinet ministers in one fell swoop? Was he dissatisfied with the functioning of all ministries? Will the inefficient minister in one department prove efficient in another? Isn't it that just as the ministers were coming to terms with the specificities of their respective departments they were shifted? By the time this term ends, wouldn't they still be grappling with their new ministry? Is there any method in this madness? Or, is this pure imperial whim?
That is the biggest danger. A popular leader sometimes gives short shrift to rationality when he focuses too much on oneself and a small coterie surrounding him, to the exclusion of institutions and processes. That is the surest indication of a popular leader getting carried away by adulation. This happened to Lalu Yadav. One expected a leader like Nitish Kumar to strengthen institutions and consolidate processes for the long-term good of Bihar. But, like Lalu, he seems to be falling into the trap of a personality cult.
When asked about the rationale of the ministerial reshuffle, the chief minister's close friend and a Member of Parliament, Shivanand Tiwary, replied: "Everything that happens or does not happen in Bihar is on account of the chief minister. Ministers are there only because there is a constitutional requirement. They should be happy with their bungalows, cars and attendants". As if to corroborate his argument, he said: "I was the excise minister in the Lalu government for full five years. But I could not implement the excise policy despite my best efforts as the chief minister did not want it. Ministers are virtually inconsequential in Bihar".
Is it too much to expect that things should change for the better under Nitish Kumar?
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