Tag: nitish kumar

Bihar elections

India
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Bihar election results are out. JD(U)-BJP coalition has won. RJD-LJP, Congress and others have lost.

Nitish Kumar had made development an issue in the elections and he won. Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had campaigned in Bihar. They attacked Nitish Kumar. Their campaigns did not have the desired effect. Congress did not want coalition.

People ignored Naxal threats and voted.

Out of 243 seats JD(U)-BJP got 206, RJD-LJP 25, Congress 4 and the remaining went to others. Parties like BSP, SP, CPI(M) and CPI did not have much success. Rabri Devi lost from both seats she contested.

Nitish Kumar became chief minister for the first time in 2005 and had to quit within 15 days. In 2005 when he managed to get enough MLAs to support him President’s Rule was imposed. Another election followed and he had absolute majority. This time he has 85% majority.

Some feel Nitish Kumar successfully managed the elections. He kept Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi out of campaign. Otherwise the result could have been different.

During RJD rule Bihar declined. Law and order collapsed. During its last years kidnapping had become a cottage industry. During JD(U)-BJP rule situation improved. However Nitish Kumar was soft on Naxals and there were some abductions and murders.

It is wrong to say Nitish Kumar won only on the basis of good governance. He had his combination of communities.

Some say Bihar election is a landmark as there were no promises of free electricity, TV or loan waivers. One can not promise free electricity when there is no electricity and free TV does not make sense when there is no electricity. Anyway, good that nobody tried populism. Populism has its price and it leads to problems.

Death of Lucas Tete

India, Terrorism
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On 2/9/2010 TV channels reported that Maoists had murdered Abhay Prasad Yadav. On 3/9/2010 the body of the dead person was identified as that of Lucas Tete.

Bihar’s police had an encounter with Maoists on 29/8/2010 which resulted in the death of eight policemen and capture of four policemen by Maoists. It is not known how they were captured. Perhaps they ran out ammunition. Perhaps they got separated from their colleagues. Perhaps someone betrayed them. Policemen fighting gunbattles should have protective gear from head to soles. They should have bulletproof helmet, visor, armour, trousers and shoes.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is responsible for Lucas Tete’s death. He did not join central government and governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal in fight against Maoists. He did not order police operations against Maoists in Bihar. He spoke of development. He did not want speedy trial of Maoists in jail.

ERF, CRPF and other policemen got killed in West Bengal, Jharkhand and other states. Nitish Kumar was complacent. He did not prepare for Maoist attacks. In other states there were actions against Maoists. It became difficult for them. Bihar was easy.

CRPF men wanted 24 hours notice to take part in operation against Maoists. That saved them from being killed or captured.

Maoists wanted release of eight prisoners in exchange for release of four policemen. They set deadlines and killed one. There are further deadlines for the remaining policemen.

Nitish Kumar said he is helpless. In that case he should quit and let someone takeover and do the job. Maoists should be told for every policeman you murder we will hang two Maoists.

India should have a policy of no negotiation with terrorists. That will put an end to abductions, hijackings and kidnappings for the purpose of releasing prisoners.

Swami Agnivesh has lost his credibility by supporting the Maoist demand. He has condemned the killing of policeman but did not say Maoists should release the policemen unconditionally. Other Maoist supporters did not have credibility.