In a sense, this is not a big deal, as Nitish Kumar does not have a stellar record of representing Muslims in government. In the outgoing government of Nitish Kumar, there was only one Muslim minister, Feroz Ahmed, who was only in charge of minority affairs.
Compare this to the Mahagathbandhan government led by Nitish Kumar from 2015 to 2017, in which there were four Muslim ministers and they had important portfolios like finance and excise duties.
However, if we compare it to 2010, when Nitish was at its peak, it is a major change. Even in 2010, the JD (U) had contested in alliance with the BJP and yet seven Muslims were chosen with JD (U) tickets and even the BJP had a Muslim MLA.
That was a slightly different NDA, whose policy was not as stridently anti-Muslim as it is now. As a result, Muslims were also open to vote for the NDA.
The Nitish Kumar government had several schemes specifically targeting Muslims.
But with the BJP now pursuing an unequivocal Hindutva agenda, it has become clear to Muslims that nothing will come of propping up a BJP ally.
Clearly, the alliance with the BJP has cost Nitish Kumar all the support he had among Muslims and compromised his model of government.
It is unclear if this bridge will ever be repaired.
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