Even with his studious grasp of political implications across decades, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar cannot afford to miss the significance of the next 12 months in navigating his political trajectory. He’s starting early with the symbolism of a street campaign.
On January 5, Nitish will embark on a yatra across Bihar from Bettiah, the headquarters of West Champaran district. In line with some of his earlier yatras, he has pitched this one as a social awareness campaign, with prohibition as its centrepiece alongside other issues like child marriage. In the wake of the flak he drew for the recent hooch tragedy in Saran district and his response, the battle of perceptions around the prohibition policy and its shoddy execution will not escape his sense of political projection.
