No BJP CM face for UP elections

In the recently held elections to the 243-seat Bihar Assembly, the grand alliance won 178 seats, including RJD-80, JD(U) 71 and Congress 27.

The JDU leader Nitish Kumar (a “Kurmi” by caste) and the RJD leader Lalu Prasad (a “Yadav” by caste) are from the OBC category in Bihar playing a leading role in the politics of the state.

The governor urged him to continue as caretaker chief minister till a new government is formed. Ironically, when in Patna I asked both Nitish and Amit Shah about their seat forecasts, they gave me an identical figure: 140 seats.

Kumar, who tendered his resignation earlier within the day and was requested to proceed as appearing CM by Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, stated after staking declare to type the subsequent authorities: “I have been invited to take oath as CM on November 20”. Ten years of Congress rule provided for the ideal anti-incumbency plank, a punching bag that worked not just in the general elections but also helped the BJP seal victories in Maharashtra and Haryana. “There is no problem in our party and the list of ministers from JD(U) quota will be ready on time”, said a JD(U) legislator close to Nitish.

It is said that since the RJD got the largest number of 80 seats, the party would get 16 ministerial posts.

Thus before targeting an individual and writing him off just on the basis of one election, India needs to find out what can be a worthy alternative to its prevailing politics.

Reporters covering the Bihar elections are convinced that the tide during the campaign turned decisively in favour of the JD (U)-RJD combine after this patently political statement made by the head of an organisation, which publicly states that it has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with culture. Following are the five interesting facts the Bihar poll result has thrown.

Sinha had also said Bihar voters had understood that the announcement of economic package by Modi was a “poll gimmick”. In other words, NDA lost the election despite having wider social base and Mahagathbandhan won the election with relatively narrower social base, primarily on account of the numerical weakness of multiple pro-BJP EBC and Mahadalit castes against the combined strength of Muslims and Yadavs.

Relations: All this implies that whatever course correction Modi and the BJP may undertake domestically because of Bihar, our external relations are on a different track.

The election results were a stinging repudiation of Modi’s ambitions. Lalu has perhaps realised this, because he has said that he would leave the governance of Bihar to Nitish and would himself concentrate on mobilising anti-Modi forces in other states.

Most Bihar poll observers have said that a major factor in the BJP loss in Bihar was Modi’s aggressive and arrogant style of campaign and his penchant for making personal attacks on his rivals. The consolidation of minority votes may prove detrimental in the Lotus path to power. BJP can’t win State election with piecemeal strategy. Would a BJP defeat portend the emergence of a national alliance against it?