Nitish Kumar made some promises during the Bihar elections. One of which was to the protesting women that he would curb the sale of alcohol in the state if he was elected. Since alcohol is a 3500 to 4000 Cr revenue source for the already cash strapped state it may seem illogical to most. But he made a promise.
He wins the elections with the help of RJD. Then most of the posts in his government were taken by RJD people. But he is the CM, is he not? So what to do?
There really is only one option left. To keep his promise to the ladies. But’s it’s going to stir up a hornet’s nest.
The announcement of Bihar banning alcohol sales and consumption in the state from April 2016 shocks most people. The alcohol barons though are shaken.
The centre also needs to think about this situation. After all the centre also got some share of the states revenue from sale of alcohol.
We wonder what Nitish’s favourite partner in reign had to say about this decision.
But if one thinks about it, banning alcohol has never really solved the problems that the women were protesting against. Men still beat, abused, raped and drove under the influence. The only difference was that now they were getting their alcohol illegally, making the bootlegging mafia richer.
On deeper thought one will realise that Nitish Kumar’s decision is actually a brilliant move.
If they can manage the law and order situation (ahem, this is Bihar we are talking about. There are pending cases against 19 out of the 29 members in his cabinet), then they have a win-win situation on their hands.
