Even the most ambition-driven journeys remain incomplete. Nitish Kumar's has been an amazingly opportunistic one with more ups than downs, but again, incomplete.

The Chameleon changed his colors again and for the second time in a coup against his own mandate, Mr. Kumar this time walked over to the BJP ditching the 'Mahagathbandhan' and has since been sworn in again as CM of Bihar in a hurried hustle with the BJP’s support.

THE OPPORTUNIST:

While the BJP has a lot to cheer for, Nitish Kumar, despite having couched his decision in the principle of anti-corruption, will have a hard time explaining his change of heart, yet again.

Lalu Yadav was already a convicted criminal when the Mahagathbandhan happened. Then why is this drama? Personally, I genuinely feel Nitish should have sought a fresh mandate if he is talking about moral high grounds. But a flexible, convenient conscience is what Nitish's politics is all about.

Nitish was once very close to Lalu Yadav, then CM of Bihar when anarchy ruled the state. Realizing that any opposition to Lalu will be futile, Nitish, the risk taker, decided to move on in a separate direction.

Since 2005, the NDA remained in power in Bihar until Nitish's national ambitions led to him walking out of the alliance. He broke up because of a personal and political rivalry. Nitish had national ambitions of his own, encouraged by the liberal intelligentsia. Nitish was convinced that by prioritizing the 'Secularism' card and breaking away with Modi led BJP, his ambitions could be met.

But in 2014, Mr. Kumar realized that he lacks grass root support. He also calculated his strength, which is his image as a non-combative politician that makes him acceptable to many. Nitish Kumar plunged to a new low and joined hands with his old friend-turned-rival Lalu Prasad to survive in Bihar and pursue his national ambitions. What a man.

The prohibition law was brought in, and it was implemented in such a manner as if Nitish is in the revenge mode against his own people. The Bihar Government that was running in alliance with a mightier Lalu started showing its character.

While Nitish was expected to keep Lalu and his unruly constituency "contained," rampant lawlessness started finding its feet. Bootlegging had become a favored trade post Prohibition. Crime control was no longer a badge Nitish Kumar could proudly wear.

The first major jolt came in when a boy was shot dead for overtaking by dreaded goon- JDU MLC's son in broad daylight. Then the murder of a journalist in Siwan, followed by the spectacle of Shahabuddin's cavalcade breezing past Patna rocked the news.

Nitish's meekness in the release of Shahabuddin was more persuasive than his fierce resistance to stop Modi. Each passing day was robbing Nitish Kumar of even the fig leaf of morality that he tries to project.

Though late, Nitish sensed that Lalu is becoming a liability and 'Mahagathbandhan' is not his future and waited to see how national politics would turn out.

Seeing that the Modi appeal is still intact and the opposition alliance showing no signs of taking off. Congress leadership is utterly disappointing and is unable to challenge Modi-Shah juggernaut. In this political climate, Nitish had slowly begun bending. Nitish's ‘secularism' bluff was being called off.

.

Courtesy a series of CBI, ED, and Income Tax raids, Nitish was arm twisted, and the index of cohesiveness against the BJP has been plundered.

This darling of the secular intelligentsia, who was in alliance with the prime faces of corruption in India, was being groomed as the national opposition to Narendra Modi. The meltdown of the Lutyens secular cabal is not at all amusing, but very hilarious. By giving up, Nitish shattered all their hope in one evening.

In an ugly show late Wednesday night, Nitish Kumar danced overnight on center's tune to get back to his chair, and breathe. What a faceless, opportunist.

Nitish Kumar has a dubious distinction of being the only chief minister for three straight terms without having a political base. But, it is not the BJP Nitish has been used to as an ally. It is an aggressive Modi-Amit Shah dispensation which won't allow Nitish the freedom he enjoyed from 2005 to 2013.

Nitish's first test would be the number of seats he negotiates with Amit Shah during 2019 LS elections. Don't be surprised if he is brought to the size of Ram Vilas Paswan.

THE SOLE WINNER:

Politics follows the power principle and not moral codes. Suddenly, Narendra Modi and BJP are no longer political untouchables, rather the fulcrum around which the national politics revolves.

This entire Nitish Ghar wapsi drama only reinforces the domination of BJP as a political force today in national politics. Nitish can do anything to cling on to power. It is the Modi-Shah duo's political acumen that sensed an opportunity to cut down Lalu and in the same stroke get back to lost power in Bihar.

But most importantly, for BJP, it destroys any chance of a 'United Opposition' and leaves Nitish as a midget.

OPPOSITION IN TATTERS:

Now compare BJP's moves with Congress's reaction. The Congress high command, which should have gone out of its way to nurture and sustain the only symbolic alliance of Opposition resistance, however, proved to be spectacularly incapable.

The fact remains that Congress did not even try in the larger interest of sustaining the opposition as a viable political force. It is a deeper defeat for entire anti-Modi camp than is immediately apparent.

The Congress led opposition finds itself defending the corrupt.

Two of India's shrewdest politicians have come together, and a rivalry-turned-friendship is renewed. Nationally, it demoralizes the opponents.

CONCLUSION:

What came apart in Bihar was not merely a government or an alliance; what fell apart in a stunning psychological blow to its ability to retain and build on cohesive opposition to Modi's grab on the national imagination.

It is the beginning of the end of fake secular politics. The Mahagathbandhan model was rooted in the name of "secularism." For decades, we witnessed blatant corruption being justified in the name of Secularism. All these years, all sorts of wrongdoings in Indian Politics; from appeasement to corruption, from casteism to dynasty, were being brushed under the carpet of fake secularism.

The Bihar model that, the opposition was keen to replicate and expand to take on the BJP in the next Lok Sabha election, has been neutralized. The hollow political slogan of 'secularism' is handed over the death knell and has now become a corrupted, discredited word in Indian politics. This entire episode changes the national narrative that corruption cannot be tolerated in the garb of the secularism gimmick.