The Sunday (June 03, 2012) in the north-eastern district of Kishangnaj remain full of activities related to the Seva Yatra of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. On the first day of Seva Yatra (b/w June 3 and June 5), the highlights were the visit of Nitish Kumar to AMU Study Centre Site at Chakla, under-construction Laucha Bridge, declaration of the CM to provide support for Pineapple cultivation and dinner in the constituency of JD(U) MLA Naushad Alam. However, in between the lines a major issue that led to series of speculations was the absence of Janata Dal (U) leader Taslimuddin from the cavalcade of Nitish Kumar.
The veteran politician of Seemanchal Taslimuddin was nowhere in the scene and it somehow made the speculations of his separation from the JD(U). For past few months, Taslimuddin is reportedly not sharing good rapport with the party and also with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The supporters of Taslimuddin even said to some media organizations that their boss is planning to launch a new party to meet the expectations of Seemanchal people.
Nitish Kumar too didn't speak anything about the veteran leader Taslimuddin during his address to public and his party leaders. The same Nitish Kumar organized attended a mega rally on July 4, 2010 to welcome Taslimuddin in his party Janata Dal (United). In fact, Kumar has referred Taslimuddin as “Seemanchal Ka Gandhi” and showered the veteran leader with many praising words. In few months time the Bihar Assembly elections held and Taslimuddin got success in providing tickets to his son Sarfaraz Alam from Araria constituency, Mujahid Alam from Kochadhaman (Kishanganj) and close related Saba Zafar from Amour (Purnia). Taslimuddin himself was all set to get the ticket from Kishanganj constituency in 2010 but the seat went to the ally BJP and Sweety Singh fought the election.
Although it would be too early to predict anything right now, but the absence of Taslimuddin in the first day of Seva Yatra raises many questions. Speculations are made that Taslimuddin may again join Laloo Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The speculations get credibility from the fact that Taslimuddin has met RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad at this residence in New Delhi few weeks back. If Taslimuddin makes a comeback into RJD it will altogether give a new dimension to the politics of Seemanchal especially the district of Kishanganj and the Loksabha polls of 2014 will see an interesting equation.
