CPI youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s Jana Gana Mana rally in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on February 27 had two unlikely people in attendance Congress MLAs Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Awadhesh Singh shared the dais with him. Khan, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students union president like Kanhaiya, insisted later that their presence there was only to support the cause, the rally was part of a campaign against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed-then-denied National Register of Citizens (NRC) but he did admit the opposition needed every like-minded party and individual on board if it was to best the JD(U)-led NDA all­iance in the assembly election this October.



The CPI was not part of the RJD-led five-party alliance for the Lok Sabha poll in 2019. In fact, the RJD had put up a candidate, Tanveer Hassan, in Begusarai, from where Kanhaiya contested unsucc­essfully. The RJD may not be keen, but when it comes to Kanhaiya, the Congress appears to have a soft corner for the ex-student leader. If the two do come together, as some sections are hoping, it could benefit both parties in Bihar. While the CPI does not have a party organisation or a significant cadre base, the Congress lacks a frontline leader, a credible face in Bihar. Kanhaiya, with his powerful oratorical skills, could be the answer if an arr­angement can be worked out between the two parties.



But while there are enough reasons for a closer working relationship, there is already a spanner in the works. A top Congress leader admitted that the AAP government’s recent sanction for the prosecution of Kanhaiya and nine others in a sedition case may force a rethink by the central leadership.

The maximum punishment for sedition is life imprisonment, the minimum three years. If convicted, a person cannot contest elections for six years. Kanhaiya has welcomed the prosecution decision, saying he wants a speedy trial so that the country gets to know how a law like sedition is being misused. Not many expect a verdict in the case before the Bihar assembly election but its shadow could still be too overbearing for the grand old party.



A section of Congress leaders believes it may be better to ally with the Left than the undependable Jitan Ram Manjhi (Hindustani Awam Morcha) and Mukesh Sahani (Vikassheel Insaan Party). There are, however, sceptics who feel Kanhaiya does not bring much to the table apart from the support of the Muslims, who are already with the opposition.

The communication deficit between RJD acting chief Tejashwi Yadav and Kanhaiya could also make it difficult to bring the two together. While Tejashwi is unlikely to cede his leadership status to anyone, Kanhaiya is also a big campaign name, says a senior Congress leader. There is also some reluctance to accept Tejashwi’s leadership in some sections of the party. We are trying to work out a middle path. Tejashwi will be told that Kanhaiya is only interested in nat­ional politics. But to get him on our side, the RJD scion will need to agree on whom to project as the face of the grand alliance.



A senior Congress leader concedes that the dice are loaded against the opposition with the NDA’s campaign spearhead, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), seemingly still enjoying the TINA (there is no alternative) factor. Nitish has the image of a performing chief minister, someone who has delivered on multiple fronts, including better roads and electricity for all. That said, the ideological faultlines between the JD(U) and BJP are also clearly visible. We can exploit the situation, but only by putting up a united front, he says. That is easier said than done.