Will Nitish Kumar be next George Fernandes? Not if Jokihat sinks him first

Kumar and the JD(U) have both a serious challenge and a golden opportunity ahead of them in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections

The results of last month's bypolls and what they could mean for the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 offer both a challenge and an opportunity for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his party, the Janata Dal (United).  

On one hand, BJP's reversals in Uttar Pradesh may have boosted Kumar's bargaining power in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), while his party's defeat in Jokihat could portend disaster for the 'sushasan babu'.      

Aiming to be another George Fernandes 

Kumar and the JD(U) reportedly feel that if the BJP wins 200-odd seats in 2019, coming up short