PATNA, March 6 -- Chief minister Nitish Kumar's bid to make a transition to national politics by filing nomination for Rajya Sabha polls on Thursday after spending 20 years as head of the state government since 2005 is surely politically significant, but many of Kumar's associates and ordinary people feel ,the former railway minister's decision to step down from the CM's post could have been more gracious. They also feel, the 76- yr-old's decision to pave the way for a new NDA government in Bihar with a new incumbent on the top post also marks the end of the ' Lalu and Nitish' brand of politics- the euphemism for the two student leaders of 1974 movement who have dominated state politics since the 1990s on the ideological plank of social justice and socialism. Saryu Roy, a college mate of CM Kumar and a sitting JD(U) MLA from Jamshedpur West, was open in his thoughts, stating that the exit of the JD(U) national president from state politics today was 'unceremonious' and could have been scripted more smoothly. "Frankly, I am not happy with the way things have unfolded today or in past few days. There was no need to make the process of Kumar's transition to RS in such a sudden manner. It is not graceful for a man who has worked so hard for Bihar's development since 2005," he said. Turning nostalgic, Roy said he knew Kumar since 1966 from his Science College ( a constituent college of Patna University) days when both were in same class and later they pursued engineering with Roy later dropping the course. "He was always a sincere student and did things methodically. He carried himself with grace and a purpose, which was reflective in his works as a politician. In his 20-year-old stint as CM, he did create a social following by his own brand of development politics laced with social engineering to uplift all sections ," Roy said. Of course, Roy had little words of praise for 78- year-old RJD chief Lalu Prasad, with whom the former had a long tiff and was one of the whistle blowers of the multicrore fodder scam in which Prasad got convicted. "There is always a difference between Lalu and Nitish brand of politics. Lalu has been a person known for his off the cuff remarks and being impulsive but Nitish has been measured in his speeches. The duo had their own distinctive style of politics, which has dominated Bihar for almost four decades. That is quite unique," he said. Another long associate of CM Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Shivanand Tiwary, a former MP and veteran RJD leader, maintained that Nitish's bid to choose Rajya Sabha probably was a decision of his own volition and there was no reason to think' it was done out of any pressure or compulsion. Tiwary was one of the founding members of the Samata Party, the outfit launched in 1994 by CM Kumar, late former defence minister George Fernandes and others after walking out of old Janata Dal. "Nobody can force CM Nitish to take any call unless he agree to it. I know that. But , I feel, CM Kumar is handling over the top post to those with whom he had previously severed ties on ideological differences and later, compromised with them." said Tiwary, making an oblique reference to Kumar's differences with Narendra Modi 2010 onwards after Modi slowly started coming on national politics to get projected as BJP's face for the PM's post. The JD(U) had snapped ties with BJP in 2013 but later, rejoined in 2017 before snapping ties with NDA in 2022. But, the JD(U) again switched back to the NDA in 2024 January. Tiwary said, there were indications that new set of leaders would take centre stage in coming months with Nitish stepping down and RJD chief also passing on the baton to his younger son Tejashwi, who was recently made national working president of the RJD. "Curtain is slowly coming down on Lalu-Nitish era but the RJD chief would always be known for taking social justice to a conclusive phase in his stint in power whereas CM Kumar gave space to hardline Hindutva forces," Tiwary said. KC Tyagi, a former Rajya Sabha MP of JD(U) and an old associate of Kumar, said it would be wrong to perceive that 'Nitish era' had ended with the JD(U) strongman making a transition to Rajya Sabha. " CM Nitish Kumar has pulled the state from its moribund of darkness to new phase of development and progress, He would always be remembered for pursuing clean politics and nailing corruption .His era is not over," Tyagi said. Many in academic field and professionals in the state also feel , CM Kumar's new political innings has varied meanings for Bihar as it has put a question mark on whether the new government would be able to pursue the 'good governance ( Sushashan)' model done so relentlessly by Nitish in last two decades. Rakesh Tiwary, a Patna-based economist said, "After the end of the RJD rule in 2005, CM Kumar took four to five years to win confidence of people by his Sushashan model. He instilled faith in people that 'rule of law' governance could replace the immediate social justice agenda of his predecessor. Once CM Kumar demits office, there is a concern if the same Sushahsan would continue or there would some decline. There is now a concern whether there will be stability in Bihar or instability as it was witnessed in 1990s during RJD times." Abhay Nandan, a social activist, said CM Kumar not only ushered development but worked for all sections of the society. "Bihar will remember his stint as CM for long as work done by his government has been well visible, be it in form of roads, law and order or harmony. We do not know what is in store for us in the future ," Nandan said....