I am to understand that except for the RJD, none of the political parties are bothered to highlight the issues and affairs of the masses, as if mocking Nitish Kumar for his alleged misrule and misgovernance will be enough to get them votes. Agreed, that there is a palpable discontent against Nitish Kumar at the grassroots, but that doesn’t mean people will singularly buy any argument pointed towards bringing a change for the better.
Young turks Tejashwi Yadav and Chirag Paswan carry with them a lot of enthusiasm to inspire and excite the minds and hearts of the younger population. But will this be more than sufficient in spirit and substance, or will it necessarily impact the youth turning out to vote? If we were to go by the numbers in their public meetings and rallies well, we also have Pushpam Priya Chaudhary of the Plurals Party with her Cambridge return. She would, in all her command and capacity, want to bring back the lost glory of the state.
A positive response from the people in her constituency of Jamui is making her feel optimistic about her prospect. As for our mainstream political parties, claims and counterclaims made ought to be balanced by strategies and blueprints. I believe the youth of our state is excelling in this fine art with a rewarding distinction. It’s time for leaders of the socialist era to take a backseat and encourage this constituency to come forward and offer us an visible alternative.
Our state has predominantly been a casteist society and has always upheld the social and political arithmetic of community- and caste-based alliances. Political agendas have never persuaded to ideate on the themes of infrastructure, health, living and livelihood. They are always secondary to the rank and power of the politicians. I am afraid as we can’t afford to pass the blame and bucks if we are choosing lawmakers for whom these matters cease to exist.
As for their sense of opinion and conduct of the electorate, Nitish Kumar is the perfect illustration of someone who continues to rake up his report card and cut to size the anti-incumbency associated with 15 years of his tenure as chief minister and leader of the state. He has played his politics around social welfarism and imagined identities of caste, community, class and gender when it comes to Bihar’s unequal access to material goods and resources to people of different stratas and segments. Nitish has justified his decisions and legislations passionately with pride. Not once did he make efforts to strengthen the state’s physical infrastructure, which in turn, would have benefitted the state population.
And why would he, if it were not in consonance with the ideological imagination of social welfare politics being tilted towards appeasing and not uplifting the not-so-called entitled castes? We had EBCs and Mahadalits curated by Nitish babu as exclusive vote banks claiming their share of ownership in Nitish’s political method of development and empowerment. Except for translating their votes into seats, Nitish hasn’t done much as for his unexplained creases on the forehead.
Tejashwi came in for direct attack by Nitish Kumar when the former began to question his claims and counterclaims as Bihar’s Chief Minister. Tejashwi was name-called by the CM as this didn’t deter him for indulging in the fulfillment of his objectives. Creating 10 lakh jobs for the youth of the state will be impossible if we were to go by the theories of the JDU and BJP, except for their huge budget and their claim of providing 19 lakh jobs to Bihar’s youth, if it were to come true.
One is not sure how it might come true as it would require a big budget. Moreover, bringing the BJP to power will attract a free corona vaccine for the people of our state. People willingly and wisely are looking up to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement at a press conferences in Patna on October 22. Oh, they forgot to ask Tejashwi about his opinion on whether the free vaccine would come handy to the generation for employment opportunities in the state.
In a few hours now, polling for the first phase will kickstart in Bihar. It’s up to the people now to make their call regarding the claims and counterclaims made in this electoral season. Entertain and enjoy yourself by becoming an involved participant wanting to throw surprises, isn’t it?