Reacting to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs’ demand for the ‘Yogi model’ of ‘bulldozer governance’ in Bihar, leaders of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), said, “Bihar doesn’t require the bulldozer regime as the ‘Nitish model’ of governance is the proven form of governance in the country.”
With the two ruling alliance parties in a row, Opposition parties took a swipe at them, and pointed out, “Yogi’s bulldozers have miserably failed in checking inflation and unemployment in U.P.”
Buoyed by U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s sweeping win in the recently held U.P. Assembly poll, BJP MLAs in Bihar, and leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad, Agriculture Minister Amarendra Pratap Singh and party MLAs Vinay Bihari and Haribhushan Thakur have said they want the ‘Yogi model’ of governance to rein in criminals in Bihar.
“U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is known for better administration in the State. ‘Yogi model’ ki jarurat hai Bihar mein (‘Yogi model’ is needed in Bihar),” Mr. Prasad said.
“The act of using bulldozers will instil a sense of administrative fear among criminals here like it’s being used to check crime in U.P.,” his Cabinet colleague and party MLA Amarendra Pratap Singh said.
“The ‘bulldozer model’ of governance of U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath is the need of hour in Bihar too,” BJP MLAs Vinay Bihari and Haribhushan Thakur said.
The BJP leaders’ demand for the ‘bulldozer model’ of governance in Bihar has embarrassed the party’s ruling ally, the JD(U), and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. When asked on Monday, Mr. Kumar chose to remain silent on the topic. But his party’s parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha said, “Bihar doesn’t require the ‘bulldozer model’ of governance as the ‘Nitish model’ of governance has been tried and tested and is popular across the country. Bulldozers should be used to remove encroachments on government property.”
“Even the top BJP leadership has praised Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister and his model of governance. We do not take notice of what others say,” Mr. Kushwaha added.
A senior JD(U) leader and Minister in Mr. Kumar’s Cabinet, said on condition of anonymity: “Let them [the BJP] be happy with the ‘bulldozer model’ of governance in U.P. It is not required in Bihar and as long as Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister of the State. Only the ‘Nitish model’ will be running here, nothing else.” “It is all bakwas (bunkum). What is the need of it [the ‘Yogi model’] here in Bihar?” he asked. “
The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress took swipes at the ruling alliance over the row. “His [Mr. Adityanath’s] bulldozers miserably failed in demolishing inflation and unemployment in U.P. So how will it [the ‘bulldozer model’] be successful in Bihar? BJP leaders must teach a lesson to their ruling partner, the JD(U), in Bihar about this,” mocked RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Tejashwi Yadav.
“The State BJP leaders’ demand for the ‘Yogi model’ of governance in Bihar clearly indicates what’s in store for Nitish Kumar in the coming days. JD(U) leaders must be reading between the lines of the demand,” senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari said.
“’Bulldozer model’ of governance already exists in Bihar as a bulldozer signifies autocracy, growing influence of bureaucracy over governance, and no regard for elected representatives — and all this is prevailing here,” Congress leader and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, also asking, “Hasn’t the CM endorsed the ‘bulldozer model’ of governance by participating in U.P. CM Adityanath’s swearing-in ceremony?”
