Nitish-Naidu: Modi’s Enemies turned Allies II Straight Bat with Rajdeep Sardesai

Summary

In this episode of "Straight Bat with Rajdeep Sardesai," Rajdeep examines the political maneuvering of Nitish Kumar and Chandra Babu Naidu, who have transformed from staunch adversaries of Narendra Modi to allies. The discussion highlights the de-ideologization of politics where political survival often trumps ideological commitments. Sardesai delves into how these leaders have adapted to the political landscape dominated by Modi and the BJP, questioning the erosion of secular and constitutional values in Indian politics. He emphasizes the opportunistic nature of political alliances and how it challenges the integrity of secular ideals.

Highlights

• Nitish Kumar's transformation from a Modi adversary to ally symbolizes a shift in political priorities. 🎯
• Both leaders, Kumar and Naidu, demonstrate the elasticity required to maintain power amidst a dominant BJP. 🤹‍♂️
• The discourse questions the erosion of secular values, juxtaposing personal political gains against communal divisions. 📉
• Sardesai highlights the opportunistic nature of political alliances and their impact on secularism. 👥

Key Takeaways

• Nitish Kumar and Chandra Babu Naidu have shifted from Modi critics to allies, highlighting political survival over ideology. 🌀
• The transformation of these leaders reflects a broader trend of de-ideologization in politics, where personal ambitions overshadow commitments to secularism. 🎭
• The BJP's dominance in Indian politics, despite a lack of Muslim representation, underscores the complexities of political narratives and alliances. 🔄

Overview

Rajdeep Sardesai kicks off with a sharp critique of Nitish Kumar's political journey—from a critic of Narendra Modi to now an ally. He labels Nitish's political maneuvers as 'de-ideologization,' highlighting how Kumar's actions are less about ideology and more about personal political survival. 🎭

Next, Sardesai talks about Chandra Babu Naidu, presenting him as a complex figure. Despite his state not being a stronghold for the BJP, Naidu’s shift towards Modi reflects a strategic move to harness benefits from the center, portraying him as a seasoned but adaptable political player. 🤹‍♂️

Sardesai concludes by reflecting on the broader implications for Indian politics, emphasizing the erosion of secular values in the wake of tactical political alignments. The BJP’s increasing dominance, coupled with the compromised positions of former critics like Kumar and Naidu, paints a picture of a political scene where power dynamics overshadow ideological commitments. 🔄

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Context In the introduction, the author sets the stage for a personal commentary series titled 'Straight Bat,' which is hosted on their own website. The speaker clarifies that the views expressed are strictly personal and do not reflect those of any organization, establishing a tone of individual perspective. The chapter opens with a greeting in both Hindi ('Namaskar') and English, welcoming the audience to this weekly video blog.
• 00:30 - 05:00: Nitish Kumar's Political Journey The chapter outlines the remarkable political journey of Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar. It describes his significant transformation from being a staunch adversary of Narendra Modi to becoming a faithful ally, highlighting the complexities and strategic aspects of political alliances in India. The narrative suggests a comparison to Olympic-level maneuvers in politics, indicating the skill and agility Nitish Kumar and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, Chundra Babu Naidu, exhibit in navigating the political landscape.
• 05:00 - 10:00: Chandra Babu Naidu's Political Strategy The chapter titled 'Chandra Babu Naidu's Political Strategy' discusses the dramatic political shifts involving Chandra Babu Naidu and the Telugu Desam party within a 10-month period. Initially, after the June 2024 general election results led to a hung parliament, both Nitish Kumar and Chandra Babu Naidu were influential, ready to 'call the shots' in the political arena. However, a recent alignment of parties, including Janata Dal United and the Telugu Desam behind recent parliamentary amendments, signals a significant change in their political standing. This shift suggests an evolving strategy by Chandra Babu Naidu in response to the changing political landscape.
• 10:00 - 15:00: Critique on Political Opportunism The chapter discusses the concept of political opportunism, focusing on Prime Minister Modi and the BJP's dominant position. It highlights the case of Nitish, referred to by critics as 'Palu Kumar', as a prominent example of politicians shifting ideologies for personal survival. The chapter critiques the lack of adherence to consistent ideologies in modern politics, emphasizing the prioritization of personal political gain over moral or ideological commitments.
• 15:00 - 20:00: Implications on Secularism The chapter titled 'Implications on Secularism' discusses the political landscape in India focusing on the actions of the Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar. The transcript indicates that Kumar previously withdrew support from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a protest against Narendra Modi being chosen as the prime ministerial candidate for the BJP in 2013. This move was aimed at establishing Kumar as a secular leader contrasting against communal politics.

Nitish-Naidu: Modi’s Enemies turned Allies II Straight Bat with Rajdeep Sardesai Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 It is G remains. I can't work with a Tanasha or a dictator Palu Kumar of a cracked secular [Applause] mirror expressed in this blog are hosted on my own website are strictly personal and do not reflect the views of any organization. Namaskar. Hello and welcome friends once again to straight bat my weekly video blog where as the title suggests I comment with a straight bat. Now if there was an award an
• 00:30 - 01:00 Olympic medal for political gymnastics Nitishkumar the Bihar chief minister would undoubtedly be in line for a gold medal with the Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chundra Babu Naidu possibly competing for a podium finish. You see from being staunch adversaries of Narendra Modi to now faithful allies the transformation politically in the two chief ministers is almost complete. The manner in which the
• 01:00 - 01:30 Jantaadal united and the Telugu desum have lined up behind the wak amendment built in parliament recently is only further evidence on how quickly the dice has turned in the last 10 months. Remember 10 months ago after the general election verdicts of June 2024 and a hung parliament was thrown up both Nitish Kumar and Chundra Babu Naidu had shown that they were ready to call the shots. Now 10 months later both of them
• 01:30 - 02:00 have quietly accepted Prime Minister Modi and the BJP's dominant position. Let's talk about Niti G first called by his critics as palu Kumar. Now, Nitish's switch is unarguably the most graphic example of what I call the de ideologization of politics in the quest for personal survival. No var, no morality beyond personal political
• 02:00 - 02:30 survival. Remember, it was the Bihar chief minister who had first raised the flag of revolt against Narendra Modi when Mr. Modi was first chosen as the BJP's prime ministerial face way back in 2013. Seems a long time ago, no my friends. You see, withdrawing from the NDA, Nitish Kumar's aim then was to position himself as a secular champion against a communal force. This was seen
• 02:30 - 03:00 as an apparent ideological and individual conflict between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi that had simmerred from the 2002 Gujarat riots. You might recall that once Nitish Kumar did not even want to share a stage with Narendra Modi. When Mr. Modi refused to wear a skull cap during a sadhabna yatra in Gujarat in 2013. Nitish Kumar was quick to strike back by claiming that in India to run the country you have to take
• 03:00 - 03:30 everyone along. At times you will have to wear a topi at times you will have to put on a tilaki. He had said you see this was Nitishh Kumar's way of defining his version of soft political secularism and then contrasting it with the Modi brand of muscular Hindutwa. All of this was 2013. 12 years later my friends it is apparent that in this battle of contrast
• 03:30 - 04:00 there is only one winner. The same Nitish Kumar who was being propped up as a challenger number one was only was seen as the architect of an anti-BJP India alliance just two years ago is today little more than a vessel in the Modi Darbar a satrop at best truth is and I want to say this very carefully his declining personal health a grim and sad reality that can no longer be hidden
• 04:00 - 04:30 from the public gaze. An illness which really according to me should mean that Nitish Kumar should retire from politics. This illness has rendered him even more helpless to offer a semblance of a counter to the Modi juggernaut. Today his supporters will still claim that Niti G remains committed to minority to Muslim welfare. But somewhere this now appears increasingly like lip service being paid
• 04:30 - 05:00 to a constituency that is slowly being marginalized across the country and even from the JDU's political playbook for the BJP. My friends, Nitish Kumar today is little more than a useful mascot who is only needed to shore up a wider base ahead of the November Bihar elections. Post the elections, new alignments and fresh leadership possibilities are likely to emerge and Nitish GI may well
• 05:00 - 05:30 find himself left out. Let's turn to Chandra Babu Naidu now because he's a slightly more tricky case study. Mr. Naidu presides over a state where the BJP is not a major stakeholder and he possesses the administrative acumen and political experience to remain in power in Andhra Pradesh without being dependent on the BJP's largest. And yet my friends, this is the same Chundra Bababu Naidu who had raged
• 05:30 - 06:00 against Modi G in the 2019 election campaign even calling the prime minister a terrorist. Naidu's politics have always revolved around having a transactional relationship with the center. He was after all the prop who once held up both the United Front government and the Vajpileled NDA in a previous coalition era. Now as chief minister Chundra Bababu Naidu is looking to strike a similar deal with the center seeking
• 06:00 - 06:30 maximum financial benefit for a cash trapped Andhra Pradesh while also standing with the firmly with the center on contentious legislation. In a sense both Nitishh Kumar and Chundra Bababu Naidu have made political survival an art form one where all you need is a suitable elasticity in approach flexibility ra to ensure longevity in power. Their political choices place a troubling question mark
• 06:30 - 07:00 over the secular communal divide that has underpinned contemporary politics and only exposes the underlying hypocrisies of a political system where conviction is replaced by the politics of convenience and opportunism. their selective viewpoints now reaffirm a political truism that I keep referring to. Listen carefully. Where you stand on
• 07:00 - 07:30 an issue depends on where you sit. One thing in the opposition, one thing in the ruling party. Sadly, in the process, secular constitutional values have been steadily hollowed out. Is a Nitish Kumar for example secular when he stands with the India alliance only yesterday and does he turn communal now when he has switched to the BJP dto the case with a Chandra Bababunaidu they are all using
• 07:30 - 08:00 secularism to fit their political positions what we are left therefore with is only different shades of opportunistic secular politics all of whom are happy to make their peace with communalists of all kinds when required. The Congress perfected this art in the 1980s of running with the secular hair and hunting with the communal hound. One
• 08:00 - 08:30 day bowing before Muslim communalists in the Shahabano case, the next day causing up to Hindutwa flag bearsers while opening the gates of the Babri Masjid. The socialists and the wider Janata Pariar was so driven by fierce anti-ongressism. They also played foot loose with secular politics aligning with the BJP when necessary to keep the Congress out. Regional parties like the Trinamul Congress and the DMK have also aligned with the BJP led governments in the past if only to share power at the
• 08:30 - 09:00 center. Only the left parties to be fair to them have called out communal politics consistently. But the left has shrunk into political irrelevance and hence can scarcely challenge the dominant narratives of our times which my friends leaves a Modi BJP in a seemingly invincible position today. Think about this. A party without a single Muslim MP in the Lok Sabha can
• 09:00 - 09:30 claim it is now a champion of reforming Islamic practices. claim that they are ending appeasement of Muslims and claim that they are standing by the interests of poor Muslims when all they are really doing is only consolidating a hindutwa majoritarian worldview that looks at all other religions especially Islam with suspicion and often pure and simple hatred. Those who might have challenged
• 09:30 - 10:00 the BJP's dominance are either today too infeebled and too compromised to mount a significant opposition. Nitish Kumar and Chundrau Naidu supporters will claim that it is their leaders who pushed to ensure important amendments in the Wak Act that addressed the concerns of those who feared that this bill was being bulldoed through. And yes, some reform was needed in the Wak Act. But the fundamental
• 10:00 - 10:30 constitutional issue of freedom of religion has also in the process been severely undermined by the manner in which this new law has been brought. What is left are the shattered pieces of a cracked secular mirror that maybe both Nitish Kumar and Chandra Bayu Naidu need to glance at occasionally. What they will find is a disfigured reflection of our politics and it will remind them maybe of just how far they
• 10:30 - 11:00 too have come in becoming enablers of discriminatory politics where once they prided themselves on being principal defenders of the concept of equality of all faiths. I want to leave you today with a postcript. My friends, I was the first to interview Nitish Babu when he left the ND in 2013. He called me to Patna and gave me a very long interview. During the interview, I asked him why
• 11:00 - 11:30 had he decided to leave the NDA. His instant response was, I can't work with a Tanasha or a dictator. while referring to then leader Narendra Modi. I wonder therefore how the same Nitish Kumar would explain the rather pitiful situation he finds himself in. Times have changed. So do
• 11:30 - 12:00 people. Think about it. That was the straight bat. Do of course subscribe to my YouTube channel for many more such videos. for now. Stay well, stay safe. Jind namaskar. [Music]