Amidst renewed calls for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has taken a jibe at the Janata Dal (United). The opposition party has questioned the merit of such an honor, sparking a debate over Kumar's contributions and legacy.

The push for Nitish Kumar to receive the Bharat Ratna isn't new. JD(U) leaders have frequently reiterated this demand, even putting up posters to emphasize their belief that he "deserves" the award. In October 2024, the JD(U) had already displayed a poster outside its Patna office demanding the Bharat Ratna for Kumar. Other leaders from the ruling alliance, including Jitan Ram Manjhi and Chirag Paswan, have also voiced their support.

However, the RJD has consistently mocked these calls. RJD leaders have alleged that the JD(U)'s repeated demands for the Bharat Ratna are a sign of the party's internal struggles and its vulnerability to pressure from its ally, the BJP. They suggest that these demands are a tactic to divert attention from the government's shortcomings and to appease Kumar amid political tensions.

Adding fuel to the fire, former JD(U) MP KC Tyagi recently penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to consider bestowing the Bharat Ratna on Nitish Kumar, calling him a "precious gem" of the socialist movement. However, the JD(U) has distanced itself from Tyagi's statement, clarifying that it doesn't align with the party's official ideology. A JD(U) spokesperson even stated that Tyagi's recent statements have not been in line with the party's ideology and should be considered his personal views.

The RJD has seized upon this situation to criticize Kumar's governance and question his suitability for the Bharat Ratna. They argue that Kumar's tenure has been marred by inconsistencies and that his contributions do not warrant such a prestigious award. They also point to what they describe as the collapse of law and order during the RJD's rule from 1990-2005. The RJD may also highlight Lalu Prasad's tainted record. Prasad is serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases and is currently out on bail. He has also been disqualified from contesting polls on account of convictions in the cases.

Conversely, JD(U) leaders defend Kumar's record, emphasizing his efforts to develop Bihar and improve its law and order situation. They credit him with rescuing the state from a "failed" state and setting it on a path of progress. They also highlight the establishment of key institutions like AIIMS in Darbhanga as evidence of his commitment to Bihar's development. Some JD(U) leaders have even gone so far as to say that Kumar deserves an even bigger award than the Bharat Ratna.

The debate over Nitish Kumar and the Bharat Ratna also comes amid a broader political landscape where various parties are advocating for their leaders to receive the honor. The RJD itself has previously demanded the Bharat Ratna for Lalu Prasad, a move that was met with criticism from the NDA. These competing demands underscore the political significance of the Bharat Ratna and how it can be used to honor legacies and score political points.