Leveraging from anti-incumbency has become the title for the BJP in Bihar if we were to only go by some of the opinion poll surveys.
BJP might call the shorts for the formation of the government by becoming the single largest dominant party in the NDA alliance. But, how did it brighten the electoral prospects of the saffron party? Lockdowns made the living and livelihood of migrants horrible. They had to travel several kilometres on foot without any support and assistance. They were grossly neglected, starved of basic human dignity and respect as didn’t exist anymore. Why?
The answer probably lies in how the BJP made and managed its electoral arithmetic and chemistry.
A discontented Chirag Paswan was allowed to be his own self as for the BJP, nothing mattered more than scuttling the prospects of Nitish Kumar for the fourth term in office.Secondly, by counting on Manjhi and Mukesh Sahani in their fold, the BJP made this contest tricky for the Grand Alliance. Additionally, with Kushwaha, Pappu Yadav and Owaisi making inroads in the Seemanchal region, I am made to understand that it will impact RJDs winnability in this important region.
Some 40-50 seats would have surely made a lot of difference as an MY combination isn’t enough for scoring a short to power. Tejashwi knows this better than all of us as he was a deputy to Nitish in the than Grand Alliance government of 2015-17. A lot has happened since then as Tejashwi faces the task of converting the crowds of communities other than OBCs into votes.
Tejashwi can display his willingness and worthiness to do so winning over the disgruntled faction in his party. He can also do so by heeding to the sincere suggestion and advice of the senior leadership, as for his father commanding excellency as a true socialist patriarch who has often stood for social justice and empowerment.
Time is slowly slipping away and Tejashwi can’t afford to be complacent. I know Chirag has made a commitment to Modi and Shah but only if Tejashwi can pull up a show from nowhere is it possible that he might benefit from the support of the smaller individual leaders in the case of a hung house. I don’t know which side our Sushasan Babu, Shri Nitish Kumar, will pick for himself. Will he wait for the instructions to arrive from New Delhi come November 10th?
Fingers crossed.