The issue of "son-in-law politics" is gaining momentum in Bihar's political landscape. Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, has accused the state government of prioritizing relatives of prominent leaders, especially sons-in-law, in various commission appointments, disregarding merit and seniority.
Patna: Amidst ongoing discussions of a "son-in-law era" in Bihar's politics, Janata Dal United (JDU), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party, has suffered a significant setback. Senior party leader, Nawish Kumar Navendu, resigned from all his party positions today (June 19th). He publicly expressed his displeasure, accusing the party of overlooking merit and indulging in sycophancy.
Nawish Navendu served as the in-charge of Patna Sahib Assembly constituency and the state spokesperson for the Scheduled Caste cell. His resignation raises questions about alleged favoritism within the organization, a "quota system," and the neglect of party workers, potentially increasing JDU's difficulties ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Reason for Resignation
In his resignation, Nawish Navendu directly expressed his dissatisfaction with appointments in commissions, boards, and corporations. He stated that despite 13 years of loyalty to the party, he was completely ignored. He wrote in a Facebook post: "Wherever the party has appointed its people, there has been an RSS quota, a son-in-law quota, a minister's quota, and even a wife's quota. There is no place left for dedicated workers."
Navendu's statement raises serious questions about the party's functioning and appointment procedures. He also stated that he had no option left but to leave the party.
13 Years of Effort Wasted: Neglect of Loyal Workers
In his social media post, Nawish Navendu emphasized his 13 years of continuous service to the party. He claimed to have worked tirelessly, irrespective of weather conditions, to implement party decisions on the ground, yet he was sidelined when positions and responsibilities were distributed. He wrote, "I have performed all party duties with complete dedication and honesty. But today, there is no value for deserving workers in the party."
Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, has been alleging for some time that sons-in-law and relatives are being given preference in commissions within the Bihar government. Navendu's resignation appears to support these allegations. Tejashwi had stated, "In Bihar, now it's not merit, but recommendations that matter. 'Nepotism' is rampant everywhere."
The resignation of a dedicated JDU leader like Nawish Navendu further strengthens these allegations and indicates a wave of discontent within the party. Just before the assembly elections, the departure of a seasoned and dedicated leader, expressing such discontent, could be politically damaging for the JDU. It could demoralize workers and provide the opposition with a new weapon for attack.
