Ups & Downs Of Power Politics In Bihar

By: Er. Prabhat Kishore

After the independence of India, Bihar has witnessed ups and downs of various political parties as well as leaders. In the pre-Mandal era, i.e. before 1990, power politics was dominated by the Congress Party as a political institution and the upper castes in terms of leadership. In the post-Mandal era, the scenario completely reversed and it is being dominated by two powerful regional socialist background parties RJD and JDU under the leadership of Laloo Prasad and Nitish Kumar respectively, both belonging to backward classes.

Before the first general election in 1952, Krishna Singh, a Bhumihar leader, led the provincial governments in Bihar since 20^th July 1937 to 31^st October 1939 and 2^nd April 1946 to 1952. His leadership continued after 1952 and 1957 Vidhan Sabha elections till his demise on 31^st January 1961; although, dissident activities have been unsuccessfully launched by his deputy and Finance Minister Anugrah Narayan Sinha, a Rajput leader. After the demise of Sri Babu, Deep Narayan Singh, a Rajput, served as acting CM since 1^st February 1961 to 18^th February 1961. Blessed with the central leadership, Binoda Nand Jha, a Brahmin, was elected as leader of Congress Legislature Party and sworn in as the CM on 18^th February 1961. In 1962, third general election was fought under the leadership of Pandit Jhaand he continued as CM even after the election.

The dissident activities were intensified by Satyendra Narayan Sinha, son of Late Anugrah Narayan Sinha, and consequently B.N. Jha had to step down under the “Kamraj Yojana” of the Congress Party. Following his resignation, for the first time in the history of Congress, election for the leader of the legislature party was held between two social group candidates Birchand Patel, a Kurmi (supported by B.N. Jha) and Krishna Balabh Sahay,  a Kayasth (supported by S.N. Sinha). Birchand Patel lost due to betrayal of some of his close associates. K.B. Sahay led the government since 2^nd October 1963 to 5^th March 1967.

After a long span of 20-years after independence, about 85% backward & dalit population were bereft of not only in the government services & institutions, but in every walk of life. Intensive campaign for their awakening as well as reservation in government jobs & institutions was being carried out by Congress leader Deo Sharan Singh, a Kurmi (Ex-chairman of Bihar Vidhan Parishad) under the banner of “Backward Foundation”. In the meantime, experiment of “backwardism” for political control was being done by the socialists like Ram Manohar Lohia and Bhola Prasad Singh with the slogan “Sansopa Ne Bandhi Ganth, Pichhra Pawe Sau Mein Santh”. Under such circumstances, the third general election of 1967 proved to be a “political waterloo”. The Congress fell short of the majority figure and lost power in several states including Bihar.

The first non-Congress government was sworn in on 5^th March 1967 under the leadership of Mahamaya Pd. Sinha, a Kayasth, of Jan Kranti Dal. The alliance was a mix up of conflicting ideology parties like Jansangh, Samyukt Socialist Party (SSP), Praja Socialist Party (PSP), Communist Party and Kamakhya Narayan Sinha, ex-King of Ramgarh. It was very tedious for Mahamaya Babu to keep these opposite ideology parties united for long time and ultimately, the government fell by 13 votes in the Vidhan Sabha on 25^th January 1968. Bindeshwari Prasad Mandal (the chairman of Mandal Commission) was an SSP MP and joined in Mahamaya Pd. Ministry, but was not elected as MLA or MLC to become a member of Vidhan Mandal his 6-month deadline was only 10 days left. On the initiative of Congress, B.P. Mandal, a Yadav, formed “Shoshit Samaj Dal” to become the CM. So, first Satish Pd. Singh, a Koiri, of his Party was sworn in as the CM, whose tenure was for just 5 days (28^th Jan 1968 to 1^st Feb 1968) and Mandal was nominated to the Vidhan Parishad through a Governor Quota. Mandal formed the government with the support of the Congress. The Congress was not convenient supporting a backward Chief Minister. To topple Mandal Government, a break up in Congress took place and “Loktantrik Congress” under the leadership of Bhola Paswan Shastri, a Dusadh, was formed. Mandal remain in power for just 47 days (1^st Jan 1968 to 22^nd March 1968). Government of Samyukt Morcha under the leadership of Shastri took charge, but this Schedule Caste CM also had to resign only after 95 days (22^nd March 1968 to 29^th June 1968) and for the first time in the history of Bihar, President Rule came into force on 29^th June 1968.

In the Mid-Term Election of 1969, the Congress got only 118 seats and remained far from the magic figure of 160. On 26^th Feb. 1969, the government was formed under the leadership of Sardar Harihar Singh, a Rajput (26^th Feb 1969 to 22^nd June 1969) of United Forum, but he was also unable to provide stable government. Due to large-scale defection of ministers & legislatures, the Harihar Singh government was defeated in the Vidhan Sabha by securing only 143 votes against 164.

Bhola Paswan Shastri took charge for the second time through double-cross of legislatures from differentparties. The Jansangh wanted to keep the Congress out of the government. Congress also did not want the leaders of Jansangh, PSP & SSP to be inducted in the government. The Congress brought a no-confidence motion in the Vidhan Sabha which was passed with the support of Jansangh, and within 9 days Shastri Govt. (22^nd June 1969 to 4^th July 1969) collapsed. On 6^th July 1969 President Rule was imposed, which was revoked on 16^th Feb. 1970, when Daroga Prasad Roy, a Yadav, of the Congress was sworn in as CM. But again the upper caste lobby of the Congress could not accept Roy for long time.

In the opposition, there was internal fight in the SSP between the upper and backward caste lobbies for leadership in which Karpoori Thakur, a Nai, succeeded. Daroga Roy govt. (16^th Feb. 1970 to 22^nd Dec. 1970) fell down and Karpoori Thakur became CM on 22^nd Dec. 1970 with the support of the Jansangh. He too became a victim of defections and had to resign on 2^nd June 1971. A forum of like minded legislatures named “Pragatishil Vidhayak Dal” was formed and its leader Bhola Paswan Shastri took over as CM for the third time. He again fell to kept legislature united and resigned on 27^th December 1972; followed by President Rule on 9^th Jan. 1972.

In a span of just 5 years since 1967 to 1972, the People of Bihar have faced 9 chief ministers. In a bid to eradicate the unstable political scenario, Congress was voted to power in 1972 election with 167 seats. The Congress continued its traditional game and in place of Ram Lakhan Yadav, the leader of the legislature party in the dissolved assembly, Kedar Pandey, a Brahmin, was made the CM (19^th March 1972 to 2^nd July 1973). Pandey Government step down within one year and for the first time in the history of Bihar a Muslim leader Abdul Gafoor (2^nd July 1973 to 11^th April 1975) was made the CM to counter the heavyweights Mishra brothers. Gafoor had to resign following the JP movement. Taking emotional sympathy of the assassination of the then railway minister Lalit Narayan Mishra in a bomb explotion in Samastipur in 1974, his younger brother Dr. Jagannath Mishra, a Brahmin, become the CM (11^th April 1975 to 30^th April 1977) and during his tenure emergency was imposed on 25^th June 1974. On 30^th April 1977, Vidhan Sabha was dissolved and Bihar came under President’s Rule.

In general election of June 1977, the Janata Party came to power with a landslide victory in the state. Despite strong opposition from State Janata Party President Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Karpoori Thakur was elected the leader of the legislature party and took oath as the CM (24^th June 1977 to 21th April 1979). Thakur gained name & fame, when he implemented long-awaited backward class reservation in State Government services as well as institutions and distribute appointment letters to all unemployed engineers in the state. Under the patronage of Satyendra Narayan Sinha and even the blessings of JP, there were aggressive protests against the reservation. Ultimately, Karpoori Thakur had to resign and Ram Sundar Das, a Chamar, took charge of the CM (21^st April 1979 to 17^th Feb. 1980). The key of power was with S.N. Sinha and Dasji had no control over the administration. President’s rule was imposed on 17^th February 1980, and the Vidhan Sabha was dissolved.

Congress return to power in the Mid-term election in 1980 and Dr. Jagannath Mishra (8^th June 1980 to 14^th Aug. 1983), became the CM for the second time. Mishra’s worst functioning angered the Congress high command and Chandrashekhar Singh, a Rajput (14^th Aug. 1983 to 12^th March 1985) was made the CM. The general election in 1985 was fought under Singh’s leadership and the Congress returned to power, but surprisingly he was stepped down and State Congress President Bindeshwari Dube, a Brahmin, was blessed as the CM (12^th March 1985 to 13^th  Feb. 1988) by the Party high-command. Dube has full support of the MLAs, but Congress High Command pressurized him to resign and a new face Bhagawat Jha Azad, a Brahmin, (14^th Feb 1988 to 10^th March 1989), was made the CM.

In the meantime, V.P. Singh started his activities against Bofors Scam & corruption and later on Socialists also joined him. To counter V.P. Singh in the coming the Vidhan Sabha election, the Rajput leader Satyendra Narayan Sinha (11^th March 1989 to 6^th Dec. 1989) was made the CM, his long awaited dream. He tried his best to implement the popular welfare schemes and to sort out unemployment issues. But in V.P. Singh wave, the Congress loose in Lok Sabha election and Satyendra Sinha was stepped down. Dr. Jagannath Mishra (6^th Dec. 1989 to 10^th March 1990), who had the image of a corrupt politician in the  public, was again madethe CM. Dr. Mishra hampered all those popular ongoing works, which were of no personal benefit. Corruption has reached the highest level ever since independence. In the 1990 general election of Vidhan Sabha, Janata Dal came to power and the Congress was out forever.

In 1990, there was direct fight for leadership in Janata Dal between Devilal supported Laloo Prasad and V.P. Singh supported Ram Sunder Das. Das hadan edge over Laloo, but at the last moment Chadrashekhar supported Raghunath Jha jumped into fray spurring some upper caste MLAs, who were loyal to Dasji. Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav were instrumental in favour of Laloo Prasad, a Yadav, who was elected leader and sworn in asthe CM (10^th March 1990 to 25^th June 1997). Due to technical reason President’s Rule was in force since 28^th March 1995 to 4^th May 1995. For his involvement in Fodder Scam, Laloo Prasad had no way other than to step down. Laloo surprised everyone, when he put forward his house-wife Rabri Devi for the post of CM. Rabri Devi was elected the leader of the legislature party and in its history, Bihar saw its first women CM (27^th July 1997 to 2^nd March 2002). Although, for short time President’s Rule have been imposed since 11^th Feb. 1999 to 9^th March 1999.

In the general election of 2000, no single party secured majority. Governor Vinod Narayan Pandey invited Nitish Kumar, a Kurmi, (3^rd March 2000 to 10^th March 2000) to form the government, but he could not succeed to gather majority mark and resigned within 7 days. Rabri Devi was once again sworn in as the CM with the support of the Congress, whose all legislatures got ministerial berth and its leader Sadanand Singh was chaired as Vidhan Sabha speaker.

In the general election held in February 2005, no party got a clear majority. Ram Vilas Paswan’s Party, LJP was in position of king maker, but he takes “Na Lenge, Na Denge” policy on the question to support any of the two alliances. Rabri Devi had to resign and President’s Rule was imposed on 7^th March 2005. At last, Ram Vilas’s Party broke up and a large chunk of its legislatures joined Nitish’s Party JD(U). In the November 2005 election, JD(U)-BJP alliance got an absolute majority and Nitish Kumar (24^th March 2005 to 22^nd May 2014 and 22^nd Feb. 2015 uptill now) was elected leader of the alliance and sworn in as the CM. In the November 2010 election, JDU-BJP alliance again got landslide majority winning 203 of the total 243 seats and Nitish Kumar continued.

In 2013, during the Goa session of the BJP working committee meeting, the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi was made the chairman of the Party Campaign committee, with an indication that he would lead the Party (and also NDA!) after the Lok Sabha election. This angered Nitish Kumar and he broke his ties with the BJP and all the ally ministers were dropped. Nitish continue as CM with 118 JDU and 4 independent MLAs; but in the 2014 Lok Sabha general election, his Party lost badly and got just two seats. Taking moral responsibility, he resigned on 17^th May 2014 and his surprising choice Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Mushar, was elected as the leader. Manjhi was sworn in as CM on 22^nd May 2014. Manjhi had no control over the administration; progress works, initiated by Nitish, slowed down and image of the Party began to deteriorate.

There was a strong demand from the agrived legislatures for Nitish to lead the government. Seeing himself in the midstream Manjhi revolted; but with no support in the party, he had to resign on 20^th February 2015. On 22 February 2015, Nitish Kumar was sworn in as CM. He had to seek the support of Laloo’s Party RJD, having 22 MLAs, as a dozen MLAs of his party stood behind Manjhi. In the November 2015 general election, faced with the four parties NDA, Nitish Kumar joined hands with his close friend-turned-arch rival Laloo Prasad and the Congress to form Maha-Gathbandhan (MG). In the amidst of a tight battle between Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, the Maha-Gathbandhan secured 178 seats, while theNDA was shrinked at just 58 seats.  As leader of MG, Nitish was sworn in as CM, which was his 5^th term in the office.

In 2017, when name of the Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav, son of Laloo Prasad, figured in corruption case, Nitish advised him to come out of the government until he got a clean cheat; but Tejaswi did not do so and Laloo Prasad started criticizing the CM. To save the image of the government, Nitish Kumar and his Party came out from MG on 26^th July 2017. High voltage drama was witnessed throughout the night and BJP supported Nitish, who was sworn in as CM for the 6^th time on 27^th July 2017 along with BJP and LJP. In the Ministry, Pashupati Kumar Paras, younger brother of Ram Vilas Paswan, was also inducted.

In the 2020 Vidhan Sabha election, there wasa close fight between the two alliances NDA (JDU-BJP-HAM-VIP) and MG (RJD-Congress-Communist groups), in which national parties BJP & Congress has grabbed more seats in comparison to the previous elections. In reality, the fight was not “NDA vs MG”, but was “Nitish vs All”. Nitish Kumar was thesolo target of not only opposition and Liquor Mafia, but BJP’s core voters and TRP thirsty electronic media channels. The LJP parted ways with the NDA with a solo motto of “Finish Nitish” and fought on seats of JDU only with BJP background candidates. In JDU’s constituencies the BJP’s upper caste voters aggressively rallied behind the LJP and on some seats MG too to weaken Nitish. Although NDA crossed majority marks of 122, with the BJP securing 74 as against earlier 59 seats; but the JDU was reduced from 71 to only 43 seats due to betrayal of its own ally’s core voters. As per the pre-poll strategy, Nitish Kumar, being the leader of the NDA became the 34^th CM of Bihar; whose 7^th times oath for the highest post is a record in Bihar.

With above deceit, day to day criticism and an effort to break-up the allied party by BJP, JDU ultimately broke its alliance with NDA and formed the government with Mahagathbandhan on 10^th August 2022 and took oath 8^th times for the CM. Nitish Kumar had set record of serving the Bihar state as its CM for the longest period of over 15 successful years.

There have been numerous ups and downs in the history of power politics in Bihar since independence. But resultant change was the downfall of national parties dominated by upper castes and the upsurge of regional parties dominated by backward classes. People experimented various parties, alliances, personalities in the laboratory of election for want of overhauling of the rusty system. Rise and fall of numerous stalwarts and political heavyweights took place. But, time and again, the dream of the people has been shattered, and journey of the democracy is still going on. (The author is a technocrat & academician)