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Journalism of Courage
On September 24, 2020, the BJP-led government pushed through three contentious Bills on agricultural reforms (known as farm laws) in Parliament, despite serious concerns expressed by its key ally in Punjab then, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which later snapped ties with the NDA. The farm laws were eventually repealed after a year of protests by farmers.
Cut to August 20, 2024, when the Centre withdrew an advertisement for filling up 45 key posts in the government through lateral entry within a day of “concerns” expressed by two of its allies, the JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas).
Sources within the NDA pointed to the key difference between the two situations. In 2020, the BJP enjoyed a majority on its own, with more than 300 seats in Lok Sabha. But with just 240 seats this time, it is dependent on allies to run the government.
This underlines the return of coalition politics at the Centre, in letter and spirit.
This is not the first time that this government has given in to coalition pressure. Earlier this month, with some allies, including the JD(U), LJP and TDP, wary about the widespread changes proposed in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the government sent the legislation to a Joint Committee of Parliament.
The government also made specific and substantial allocations to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, ruled by key allies JDU and TDP respectively, in the Union Budget. Criticising this, the Opposition had called it a “sarkar bachao Budget”.
On Tuesday, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) cancelling its advertisement for filling the key posts through lateral entry, the allies minced no words in articulating their “victory”.
“We welcome it. We thank the PM for taking cognizance of our concern. This is a victory for the social justice movement led by Nitish Kumar. He has again emerged as the champion of forces of social justice in the country,” JD(U) national spokesperson K C Tyagi told The Indian Express.
LJP national vice president and spokesperson A K Bajpai called it a “victory of coalition politics”. “We are happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heed to our concerns and ordered withdrawal of the lateral entry advertisement. We were the first to oppose the move and argue that it cannot be done without reservation. This is a victory of coalition politics,” he said.
LJP chief Chirag Paswan held a press conference on the issue in Patna, where he said the Modi government had “reaffirmed its commitment towards SCs, STs and OBCs”. He said his office was in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) regarding the matter for the last two days.
“I thank my Prime Minister for seeking cancellation of lateral entry… This government has set a precedent for showing sensitivity towards serious issues of public concern, and we hope the Centre continues to show such sensitivity in the future,” he said.
Paswan criticised the Opposition for “targeting the Centre selectively” and blamed it for not having filled up positions reserved for deprived classes. He also praised the Centre for its stand on the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding sub-classification of Scheduled Castes, and referring the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to a parliamentary committee.
Asked if his party would support the Bharat bandh call given by some SC and ST groups, Paswan said: “We have always been opposed to the creamy layer concept in Scheduled Castes, who have not just been victims of economic and educational backwardness but also of untouchability. Years after independence, Dalit grooms are still not allowed to ride horses during their weddings. I even learnt about a Dalit IPS officer seeking security during his wedding.”
