Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s political plan to project himself as a consensus candidate for the post of prime minister in 2019 just suffered a jolt. While the Supreme Court castigated the Bihar government for its half-hearted approach in cases filed against RJD MLA Mohammad Shahabuddin and cancelled his bail, the Bihar High Court struck down the law banning sale of liquor in the state. Kumar had built a reputation as a no-nonsense chief minister by actively pursuing cases against Shahabuddin. But that was before he tied up with Laloo Prasad Yadav to sweep the Assembly polls. Now he is seen as a protector of the MLA who has murder cases registered against him. There is not much Kumar can do except act as if he is doing all to nail Shahabuddin as he is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On the same day the high court struck down the ban on liquor, but a defiant Kumar has called a Cabinet meeting to ratify a notification to ensure that prohibition continues. Kumar had gained a huge following, especially women and families fed up with a drunk man in the house, for his stand on prohibition. Clearly, the legal aspects of the law were not studied and Kumar must ensure that he does not make the same mistake with the notification.
