Bihar Results Indicate People Not Happy With Modi Govt: Sharad Pawar

The BJP had hoped for a win in Bihar to push up its numbers in the Upper House, where it has been facing difficulties in pushing through key reforms, such as easing land acquisition rules, and the goods and services tax, which is set to miss next year’s deadline for implementation.

The RJD’s performance is particularly impressive, given the fact that many political observers felt that its presence was a liability for the JD (U). Like previously fought elections, even this electoral battle saw an amusing war of words. By then, it was too late to find a suitable local counter to Nitish Kumar. From terming the Mahagathbandhan as “Mahasarthbandhan” to branding the RJD as “Rojana Jungle Raj ka Dar”, Modi was never short of harsh words.

The Election Commission ensured 24×7 three-tier security at all counting centres, with the inner cordon being manned by personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

It is welcome that Lalu Yadav, the great helmsman of the victorious alliance in Bihar, has offered unstinted support to Nitish Kumar for an agenda of development.

The NCP, which walked out of the “grand alliance” over seat allocation, had contested 40 seats.

What could not happen before the Bihar elections seems possible as its aftermath: the creation of a non-BJP front. However, soon after the table turned and the Grand Alliance marched towards a landslide victory that would resonate across the national politics even after the sound of Diwali crackers dies down.

Kumar proved a formidable opponent, especially after he did the unthinkable and teamed up with his longtime rival in Bihari politics, Lalu Prasad Yadav, to defeat Modi. “Initially, it was decided that RJD’s Abdul Bari Siddiqui will be deputy chief ministerial candidate, while between Lalu’s sons Tej Pratap and Tejaswi, one will get a cabinet berth”.

The RJD fared best out of these three parties, winning 80 seats.

Putting all speculations to rest, at least for now, Lalu declared that Nitish Kumar will continue as the chief minister. This is not a lunatic fringe as the media believes, but very much at the core of the BJP. “On the other hand, Nitish Kumar’s rebuttal raised him to the status of a statesman”, says Ajay Jha at the A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies.

Now, it has to be seen how far Nitish Kumar will succeed in checking Lalu from trying to influence governance as a dominating partner.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, a leader of the opposition Congress party, said the BJP must end campaigning on issues that fracture the country along religious lines. Few would have expected that the Nitish-led alliance will grab as many 178 seats, and leave the NDA with a meager 58 seats.

“We wanted the Left to be part of the Grand Alliance but they refused”. Both the parties are back to the drawing board.

Meanwhile, reacting to the developments today, Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the results were disappointing and contrary to the party’s expectations. Mulayam had broken away from the alliance in September apparently to show his dislike for the inclusion of the Congress in it, and to show his displeasure at the party being given more seats than the SP for the Bihar election.

Analysts said the results were without doubt a personal defeat for Narendra Modi, who staked a lot in the campaign, was its most visible face and addressed more rallies than any other prime minister in a state election.