Nitish Kumar Dubbed “Snollygoster” by Shashi Tharoor After Bihar U-Turn, Congress Calls Him “Chameleon”

Patna: Bihar’s political landscape witnessed a dramatic shift on Sunday, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigning and severing ties with the Mahagathbandhan alliance. This sudden switch drew sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Congress, who launched scathing attacks on Kumar’s political manoeuvring.

Among the most vocal critics was senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, known for his wit and penchant for obscure vocabulary. Tharoor took to social media, reviving a term he previously used in 2017 to describe Kumar’s political about-face: “snollygoster.”

“‘Snollygoster,’ a shrewd, unprincipled politician,” Tharoor tweeted, referencing his 2017 post where he deployed the same word after Kumar’s earlier alliance shift. “Didn’t realize it would be the Word of Another Day too!#snollygoster,” he added with a touch of sardonic humour.

<Sigh!> Didn’t realise it would be the Word of Another Day too ! #Snollygoster https://t.co/W6KKVrGb5i

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 28, 2024

The Congress, condemning Kumar’s actions, likened him to a “chameleon,” asserting that Bihar’s people won’t forgive his “betrayal.” Kumar’s resignation as Bihar’s chief minister dealt a blow to the opposition INDIA alliance.