Of Nitish, Lalu, and a time to be with the masses, again

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, 74, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad, 77, have been at the helm of Bihar politics for nearly five decades. Their journey began as comrades in the Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) Movement of the 1970s, fighting against the Emergency and championing socialist ideals. Over the years, they parted ways, joined hands again, and repeatedly reshaped the political landscape of Bihar — often as rivals, sometimes as allies, but always as dominant figures in these decades. Together, they have held power in the State — either directly or through influence — for the better part of 30 years, creating a political culture that continues to define Bihar’s political identity.

Today, advancing age and declining health have pushed both leaders to the margins of active p