As the NDA alliance in Bihar races past ahead of the much-touted Mahagathbandhan of the RJD, Congress and Left parties, it is only befitting to credit the BJP for its stellar performance in the state, even as it had much of the factors in this state election going against it. First, the BJP had to bear the weight of Nitish Kumar’s fifteen years as Chief Minister, and the resultant anti-incumbency. Then, they also had to work towards alleviating the image of them being as lethargic as the JD(U) is. Finally, the BJP also had to focus on reducing its ally – the JD(U) to a second fiddle in the larger NDA alliance in Bihar.
With many factors which could help the BJP lose Bihar, it was but expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be taking matters into his own hands, and campaigning aggressively in the state. Many would even say that he campaigned disproportionately in a state where the saffron party claims the Chief Minister, for now, will not be from the BJP. The Prime Minister held 12 rallies in Bihar during peak season of campaigning. These were held in Sasaram, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Chapra, East Champaran, Samastipur, West Champaran, Saharsa and Forbesganj.
While almost all the candidates in these segments, where Prime Minister Modi held rallies are today winning, it would not be an overstatement to say that Mr. Modi’s campaign has had a pan-Bihar effect. For many, the NDA alliance is putting up a brilliant performance, as opposed to the perception of many that this election was the RJD’s to win. The mood regarding an NDA win even among BJP supporters was gloomy at best. However, it seems that the Narendra Modi-charisma has helped the BJP-JD(U) combine salvage their prospects in Bihar.
According to trends available so far from the Election Commission of India, the ruling NDA in Bihar was ahead of its rivals in more than half of the state’s 243 assembly seats. The Prime Minister’s rallies have also ensured that the BJP emerges as the single-largest party in Bihar, which is by far, a resounding first for the saffron party. Effectively, the BJP has now emerged as the primary formidable political entity in the state of Bihar. This will not only upset the RJD, but also be a major cause of worry for the JD(U). All of a sudden, the extensive campaign by PM Modi begins to make sense. It was not conducted to ensure an NDA win, but to ensure that the BJP emerges as the strongest player in Bihar. An NDA win came as a natural consequence of the same.