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What fuelled Bihar's earthquake verdict for Modi and Nitish
Bihar's election saw a decisive NDA victory, reinforcing Prime Minister Modi's national influence and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's local appeal. The ruling coalition secured a significant majority, reshaping the state's political landscape and leaving the opposition alliance weakened. This outcome highlights the effectiveness of the Nitish-Modi combine and the NDA's strategic coalition management.
Bihar delivered a political thunderclap, with the ruling NDA sweeping aside the Mahagathbandhan in a mandate so decisive it reshaped the state's electoral map. The verdict reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national pull, reinforced Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's enduring appeal, and left the Congress-RJD alliance severely weakened. With the BJP and JD(U) registering an extraordinary strike rate across the 101 seats each contested, the NDA surged past the “200-paar” mark to secure a three-fourths majority, cementing the BJP's status as the single largest party.
The Nitish–Modi Combine
Nitish Kumar's governance record and Narendra Modi's national appeal complemented each other, creating a perception of stability and delivery. Voters viewed the partnership as a blend of Nitish's improvements in roads, electricity and policing with Modi's image of scale, speed and organisational strength. A near-equal seat-sharing pact and visible warmth between the leaders projected shared control.Recent central allocations and welfare schemes strengthened the platform.
Also Read: Bihar delivers decisive mandate as NDA wave sweeps Opposition aside
NDA's coalition management
The NDA's strategy of building and managing a broad-based coalition paid off. Bringing in Chirag Paswan on generous terms expanded its social reach. Though the alliance might have fared well without Upendra Kushwaha or Jitan Ram Manjhi, it prioritised inclusivity over tight arithmetic. BJP and JD(U) coordinated smoothly, distributing seats clearly and campaigning with discipline. JD(U), under working president Sanjay Jha, emphasised winnability and worked closely with BJP's Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure district-level compatibility. Each partner added value, helping the NDA navigate local complexities.Dark memories of ‘Jungle Raj'
The shadow of misgovernance linked to Lalu Prasad's tenure remained a potent theme. Allegations of anarchy, corruption and single-caste dominance from the RJD era were consistently invoked by the NDA. With Tejashwi Yadav projected as the opposition's CM face, the NDA used the contrast between “Mangal Raj” and “Jungle Raj” to full effect. Remarks from some RJD supporters about wielding “katta” or expectations of “Bhaiyaa Ki Satta” reinforced these narratives.Women voters and NDA's advantage
Recent schemes like Rs 10,000 assistance for Jeevika SHG members and an old-age pension hike added to goodwill built through quotas for women, welfare benefits, free ration, LPG connections and better law and order. Women, who allegedly suffered a lot during the Jungle Raj years, appeared intent on not allowing a return to those conditions. Songs warning of renewed fear under an RJD government found resonance. Reporters frequently encountered women not only expressing support for NDA but also influencing voting within households. Their higher turnout proved decisive.Capitalising on MGB's missteps
NDA held its coalition of EBCs, Dalits, and upper castes intact despite efforts by MGB and Prashant Kishor to chip away at it. Welfare schemes may even have drawn some Muslim–Yadav women towards NDA. Aggressive behaviour by some Yadav supporters and MGB's decision to field Osama, son of Shahabuddin, were seen as strategic mistakes. These helped prevent fragmentation of NDA's broad support.NDA's quick adaptation
The alliance's agility was evident in its amplification of Chhath Puja. Modi is credited by BJP with elevating the festival nationally. Thousands of special trains and Chhath songs at major stations helped generate pride among Biharis. Rahul Gandhi's criticism of Modi on this issue backfired, strengthening the NDA's hand.RJD's limited social reach
RJD held onto its Muslim–Yadav base, but this concentration limited its ability to appeal to other communities. EBCs were alienated by Yadav-centric rhetoric, and the party struggled to attract women outside its core, even losing some support. The result may encourage BJP to court Yadavs more actively, while reinforcing JD(U)'s belief that Muslims continue to see Nitish favourably.Rahul Gandhi's focus on ‘vote chori'
Rahul Gandhi's stress on SIR and “vote chori” found little acceptance among voters, whose experience did not reflect disenfranchisement. The approach echoed his Rafale-centric campaign in 2019. His focus consumed valuable time, forcing Tejashwi to follow suit. Rally crowds largely from MY groups proved misleading. His strained coordination with Tejashwi also affected opposition cohesion.Read More: Bihar election result: Opposition reels under weight of its 'entitled NPAs'
Tejashwi Yadav's challenge
Tejashwi's attempt to break from RJD's past was hampered by his identity as Lalu's heir and his involvement in corruption cases. Supporters' rhetoric kept the past alive in voter memory. His limited sustained engagement on the ground, unlike Lalu's grassroots style, reduced his connect. His ambitious promises also failed to convince many voters.Decline of forward vs backward politics
The traditional upper-caste vs others divide lacked traction. Upper castes have adapted to reduced dominance, and with both Nitish and Modi being OBCs, the NDA benefited. Congress's attempt to revive this divide did not resonate. Nitish's social-justice credentials, the caste survey, and BJP's acceptance of caste census enumeration further undercut the MGB's pitch. The 2015-style mobilisation did not materialise.A ‘bandhan' that fell short
The opposition alliance lacked cohesion from the outset. Congress's hesitation in backing Tejashwi as leader weakened synergy. Although friendly contests were reduced, mistrust lingered. The last-minute projection of Mukesh Sahni looked opportunistic and enabled criticism from AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi. RJD's decision to offer Congress 63 seats was widely viewed as a strategic miscalculation given the party's limited presence and inconsistent campaigning.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!Source: EconomicTimes
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