File photo of Nitish Kumar (Left) and Lalu Yadav (Right)
There is intense curiosity as Bihar wagers on whether Nitish Kumar will indeed share stage with arch rival-turned-ally Lalu Yadav in their campaign for crucial by-elections later this month. Those betting on yes may win.
Sources in both Mr Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and Mr Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) say the two leaders could be seen together in Chhapra in western Bihar first, though the campaign schedule for the August 21 elections is yet to be drawn up.
Lalu Yadav's candidate Randhir Kumar Singh is contesting the Chhapra assembly seat. He is the son of former RJD lawmaker Prabhunath Singh, who was in Nitish Kumar's party before he joined Mr Yadav's. Those were the days when the JD(U) and RJD were daggers drawn.
After they stitched together their new anti-BJP alliance, Prabhunath Singh has requested ex-boss Mr Kumar to campaign for his son. Chhapra is a Lalu Yadav stronghold and he is expected to be there too. Dates for the joint campaign are being worked out, sources said.
Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav were once young colleagues in the Janata Party but competed fiercely over the last two decades after launching their own parties. Mr Kumar spent the last many years building his political appeal on discrediting Mr Yadav and the RJD, which ruled before him.
The JD(U) and the RJD have now come together along with the Congress in an attempt to prevent the BJP from repeating its near sweep of Bihar in the general elections in May this year. Of 40 Lok Sabha seats, BJP and its allies had won 31.
Mr Kumar's decision to end his 17-year-long alliance with the BJP last year proved to be a huge mistake. He resigned as chief minister a day after the BJP won a massive mandate to form government at the Centre.
In the by-elections for 10 assembly seats, the JD(U) and RJD are contesting four seats each and the Congress two.
The BJP has its own alliance in Bihar. It will contest nine seats and partner Lok Janshakti Party will contest one.