![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://arclantic.com/politics/dhokhebaaz-poster-accuses-bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-of-betrayal-over-waqf-bill/&media=https://aen-media-storage-cms-ind-production.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/offload/2025/03/26172912/Dhokhebaaz-Poster-Accuses-Bihar-CM-Nitish-Kumar-of-Betrayal-Over-Waqf-Bill.png&description=In yet another recent case of increasing political heat in Bihar, a poster branding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as "dhokhebaaz" was put up outside the residence of former Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Rabri Devi.){kind=link}
In yet another recent case of increasing political heat in Bihar, a poster branding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as “dhokhebaaz” was put up outside the residence of former Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Rabri Devi. This is a report on the increasing backlash Kumar has been receiving from all, especially for openly supporting the Waqf Bill, 2024, and apparent neglect of Muslim community matters.
Controversy Background
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has been a political hot potato in the state of Bihar. Opposition members of the Bihar Assembly have been resisting the bill with great vigor, and this resulted in heated exchanges and walkouts. Ruckus-like conditions ruled the roost in one instance in the assembly when Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav denied opposition demands for debate on the bill. Opposition members marched to the House well, shouted slogans, and insisted on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s response to the bill. The Speaker’s refusal to give notice for adjournment led to additional agitations, and opposition members walked out in the House.
The Provocative Poster
The controversial poster had allegedly been put up by RJD member Sanju Kohli. It accuses Nitish Kumar of double betrayal of the Muslim community on two grounds, on the Waqf Bill and matters related to the National Register of Citizens. It quotes lines of 1996 film song “Saajan Chale Sasural,” where Kumar is portrayed as a cunning one who steals Muslim votes and keeps them in his pocket but not their cause. This poster illustrates the widening gap between Kumar and parts of the electorate left behind by his new political approach.
Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] is a senior ally of the Bhartiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the ruling coalition both nationally and at the state level in Bihar.
Kumar had formed the Grand Alliance government by the support of RJD, Congress, and Left parties in August 2022. However, he defected from NDA to the Grand Alliance in January 2024, which was scandalized by former allies. Rabri Devi, in her reaction to Kumar’s political switch, stated, “We never invited (him) to join our alliance. He came on his own and left on his own without informing us.”
The poster campaign is followed by yet another controversy involving Nitish Kumar. A go-viral video caught Chief Minister Kumar speaking and gesticulating as the national anthem was being sung at a Patna function. The act annoyed individuals and added to the long list of complaints against him. The incidents have also tightened Kumar’s noose with opposition parties and sections of society.
Opposition’s Reaction
Opposition and RJD were engaged in their act of condemning Nitish Kumar’s latest moves and were left flabbergasted in the bargain. Rabri Devi urged Kumar and JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lallan Singh, to apologize on comments that were deemed offensive towards women.
Implications for Future Elections
There are elections to the Assembly in Bihar later this year. New controversy and so-called disillusionment of some constituencies of voters can be a clincher for the election prospects of NDA. Opposition in the form of RJD will surely use these to pin up votes and vent ire on the current government.
A passionate writer, Niharika wants to create an impact as she believes that Journalism is not just a profession, but a passion to follow and live in. With a keen eye for storytelling and a commitment to impactful writing. she strives to inform, engage, and inspire through the pieces that she crafts. Niharika has covered the 38th National Games, getting to know the lives of athletes and players closely. When not writing she is listening to music, or browsing through social media for more meaningful topics to cover.
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