As the final numbers for the Lok Sabha set in, NDA is looking at a tally of around 350 seats in the Lower House. BJP led NDA has been successful in adding to its spectacular performance in the 2014 general elections. In Uttar Pradesh, various ‘experts’ speculated huge electoral loses for the BJP citing the new found friendship between erstwhile arch rivals SP and the BSP however the final number coming out of the state indicate the caste arithmetic on paper has failed to materialize on the ground into votes.
The 2019 general elections saw the opposition camp going to desperate lengths to counter the BJP juggernaut. Similar was the case in Bihar where 5 parties had joined hands to counter the NDA. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian National Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, Hindustani Awam Morcha and the newly formed Vikassheel Insaan Party had joined hands together to form Mahagathbandhan in the state to take on the BJP-JD(U)-LJP trio. However, the caste-based arithmetic also seems to have failed in the case of Bihar too. Mahagathbandhan facing an embarrassing defeat is looking at a total decimation with just managing victory in Kishanganj PC i.e. victory on just one out of the total 40 parliamentary constituencies in the state.
The biggest loser emerging is surely the RJD, with its founder Lalu Prasad Yadav serving a jail term for his involvement in several cases of corruption. Tejaswi Yadav, his son has been holding the reins of the party. RJD with its current standing has been reduced to zero seats in the Lok Sabha a drop from four in the last general elections.
“Heartiest congratulations to Narendra Modi with due respects to the popular mandate. Hope the Prime Minister will pay adequate attention to jobs, agriculture and economy in his fresh tenure and live up to the expectations of the people” said Tejaswi Yadav.
Bihar once a stronghold of the RJD, riding on the overwhelming arithmetic of Yadav and Muslim vote bank politics, Lalu Prasad Yadav had been successful in not only gaining power in the state multiple times but had also been successful in getting important cabinet berths in the various union governments. Bihar for a large part of its political history has been marred by violent tactics and unlawful electoral practices. Going back just a few elections reports of widespread booth capturing and politically motivated violence were normal affairs. Backed by caste based vote banks these trends continued to plague Bihar politics, however, over time this caste based vote bank politics has started to feel the heat of the dismal track record of such calculations transforming into political representation. Bihar despite being one of the most active political centres in the nation, more than 6 decades after independence, still remains one of the most underdeveloped states in India.
RJD’s rule just added to this dismal track record. Bihar under the rule of Lalu-led RJD also witnessed the worst law and order situation in the state. With murders, abductions and other criminal activities operating on a near organizational level, so much that the rule under the RJD got its infamous name of ‘Goonda raj’ (Goons rule). Even after its rapidly declining popularity over the last decade, RJD had been surviving on the last bit of vote banks it had to cushion itself from political oblivion.
However on the face of developmental agenda of Narendra Modi-led NDA, this vote bank has also seemed to have risen above the traditional caste barriers and vote considering a larger national interest in mind. The mandate given by Bihar electorate also indicate their clear rejection of the dynastical nature of the Mahagathbandhan, Misha Bharti, Lalu Prasad’s daughter contesting from Patliputra PC lost out to BJP’s Ram Kripal Yadav. Other big names of the Mahagathbandhan to lose included former union minister Upendra Kushwaha, seven-term Lok Sabha MP Sharad Yadav, Former union minister and senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar. JNU sedition case fame Kanhaiya Kumar also lost from Begusarai with a margin of more than 4 lakh votes against BJP’s Giraraj Singh.
This general elections with its caste politics defying and dynasty opposing results is surely a progressive development in India’s electoral journey which has been plagued by these issues for long and surely a stern signal for parties like RJD to mend their politics or face imminent oblivion.