NITISH'S TEMPLE TANGO

For the first time in his long political career, the Bihar CM adopts temple symbolism. A temple at Sita's storied birthplace aligns him to Hindutva

- By Amitabh Srivastava

ON THE HUMID morning of August 8 in Sitamarhi, ritual and pomp both arrived as if by appointment. A bhoomi pujan, a foundation stone, cameras arranging the moment into the traffic of images. Nitish Kumar spoke of Sita's birthplace, with no seeming trace of irony. His words bore echoes in their womb, and they were delivered right after, by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He lauded “Nitish babu” for developing Punaura Dham, before moving on to sharper polemic—accusing political rivals of protecting alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators. With two months to go for the Bihar assembly election, the NDA’s thematic duet was in full sync.