Can Nitish Kumar's plan to redevelop Sitamarhi challenge BJP's Ayodhya move?

The Laal Krishna Advani-led Ram Mandir movement emerged in 2019 following a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Hindu side during the Narendra Modi government, which gave the saffron party an edge over the religious fundamentalists.

Now, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced the Bihar government ₹72 crore plan to redevelop the Punourdham in Sitamarhi. This is seen as the INDIA Bloc member's attempt to directly challenge the saffron party's Ayodhya bid even as Janata Dal (UNited) members try to position Nitish Kumar as the Prime Minister's face for the Lok Sabha elections from 2024.

Punourdham of Bihar government in Sitamarhi

Just as Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is believed to be the birthplace of Valmiki Ramayana's Ram, Sitamarhi in Bihar is believed to be the birthplace of Ram's wife Sita.

The Nitish Kumar government's plan involves constructing a parikrama path (a path to circle the temple) with a roof and sandstone pillars. According to media reports, in addition to a cafeteria and a parking lot, a Sita Vatika (Sita's garden), Luv-Kush Vatika (Luv-Kush garden) and a shanti mandap (meditation hall) are also planned.

A 3D animated film depicting the life of Sita is also in the pipeline.

Nitish Kumar vs BJP

Nitish Kumar's decision to redevelop the space related to Sita has earned him accusations of practicing 'soft Hindutva' ahead of the BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Notably, the Bihar CM had broken his alliance with BJP in 2022 and joined hands with Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Jal (RJD), appointing Tejashwi Yadav as deputy chief minister.

Further, the JD(U) has alleged that the BJP has only focused on developing the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya while ignoring places believed to be linked to Sita.

Hindutva and Bihar

Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is seen as a landmark for Hindutva politics in India. Nitish Kumar's Sitamarhi Development Plan comes just a month ahead of the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony, which will take place on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The state of Bihar has empirically preferred a socialist form of politics, giving Nitish Kumar's caste-based census the much-needed impetus.

Historically, it has been observed that the BJP, being an independent party, lost its charm among the people of Bihar after the demolition of Babri Masjid. On October 23, the then Indian Prime Minister VP Singh Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then Chief Minister of Bihar, had authorized the arrest of LK Advani as the Ram Yatra crossed the border into the state of Uttar Pradesh.

After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, the BJP performed poorly in the subsequent elections. In the 1995 elections, the BJP managed to win only 41 of the 324 (undivided Bihar) seats.

The BJP has also failed to dominate electorally when it has fought alone. In the 2015 elections, despite the Narendra Modi wave, the party managed to win only 91 of the 243 seats.

Sitamarhi in INDIA vs. BJP

The idea that the BJP was only focusing on Ram as opposed to Sita was not only perpetrated by the JD(U) but has also found space in the dialogues of the INDIA bloc.

They have regularly responded to the BJP's Hindutva push, which is encapsulated in the slogan 'Jai Shri Ram'.

During the Haryana leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra earlier this year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said at a public meeting:Yeh (RSS) 'Jai Siya Ram' kabhi nahi kehte. Inhone Sita ji ko naare se nikaal diya; utha ke bahar fenk diya. Yeh hamare itihaas ke khilaaf kaam kiya inhone. I tell you (Congress workers): Whenever you meet an RSS worker, ask him or her to say 'Jai Siya Ram'. Kyunki, jitne jaroori Ram the, utni jaroori hello Sita ji thi.”

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Published: Dec 22, 2023 2:08 PM IST