At 4 a.m., after the closest election of his life, Nitish Kumar telephoned Sushil Kumar Modi, who had served as his chief deputy minister. “Hum log aa gaye hain” he told the BJP leader. After a full night of vote counting, their alliance finally emerged as the winner in Bihar after being shaken by Tejashwi Yadav, all 31 years old.
The result was a complete departure from what exit polls had predicted on Saturday: a sumptuous victory for Tejashwi Yadav, who, with his helicopter, staged around 250 demonstrations throughout his campaign, nearly one in each constituency. of the great state. It was his intuitive announcement of providing 10 lakhs of government jobs that apparently brought him to pole position. Hit by the economic devastation of the coronavirus and the stagnation of development in Bihar, what young people wanted more than anything were jobs. The BJP first broke Tejashwi Yadav’s engagement, claiming it would bankrupt the state. Then when he realized he was on to something, they said they would provide 19 lakh of jobs, almost double what he had titled in his sales pitch.
Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi (File photo)
So how did the BJP-Nitish Kumar alliance get out of trouble? For your columnist, there are two big winners and two equally big losers whose stories are intertwined. Let me explain why.
Tejashwi Yadav now leads the largest party in Bihar. The runner-up is the BJP, just one seat behind. That’s how close everything was. Tejashwi Yadav certainly didn’t have everything ready for him. His father, Lalu Yadav, synonymous with corruption and “jungle raj” in the state is in jail. His family is rebellious. It did not have the kind of full funding that the BJP can count on.
But she turned her campaign into an immersive experience, solely on the basis of her charisma and her commitment to addressing audiences in every part of the state. The crowds were magnificent. In an interview with NDTV aboard his helicopter, he repeatedly wiped his face as he moved between two large rallies, professing that his 19 rallies a day surpassed his father’s record of 16.
Tejashwi Yadav at a rally
Tejashwi Yadav, until now, had been a mediocre politician, showing all the burdens of a political heir. Although his speeches and connection to voters have always been his strength, as Nitish Kumar’s senior deputy minister (his government collapsed in 2017), he was irresponsible and entitled, often missing important meetings and leaving no trace of any kind. in the policies or actions that are being implemented. He was 26 at the time.
This election has made him the first mass leader of the next generation of politicians. His cunning strategy of never referring to his father in his speeches or allowing his photos in publicity material indicates strong instincts. Much will now depend on whether you can muster the commitment to serve as a dedicated opposition leader.
The tantalizing prospect of serving as Bihar’s young Chief Minister and the third member of his family to assume that post was strongly neutralized by his ally, Rahul Gandhi, who struck a harsh deal. Congress contested 70 seats, but won only 19. Once again, Congress has played its role as the weakest link, proving not only ineffective but dangerous to whatever coalition it is a part of. Tejashwi Yadav was reluctant to give Rahul Gandhi that many seats, but Lalu nudged him.
Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi (File photo)
In his speeches, Tejashwi Yadav stuck to the message by emphasizing only jobs, jobs, jobs. He also sidestepped Hindutva’s burning troubles and personal attacks on his family by an unusually flappable Nitish Kumar. Rather, Rahul Gandhi, addressing the meetings, focused on personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which have now been established as harmful, given the prime minister’s great popularity.
Narendra Modi is the other big winner at the expense of big loser Nitish Kumar. The BJP has emerged for the first time as the leader of its alliance with Nitish Kumar. If he returns to the post of Chief Minister (senior BJP leaders like Amit Shah have guaranteed it), it will be to the liking of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. The BJP finished with 74 seats and the JDU with 43. The neglected appeal of the PM to the Coronavirus and an economy with a mega case of blah deserves a thesis. He garnered statewide support for his party. Nitish Kumar, on the other hand, was tied to anti-incumbency, mismanagement of the migrant crisis, and the perception that his revered emphasis on development had lost its way.
Chirag Paswan, head of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP)
Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar’s “twin engine” claim is overstated. The center under Narendra Modi is the engine and Nitish Kumar is now just a ghost who is being swept away by Narendra Modi. Nitish Kumar has been claiming that he will get a better financial deal for Bihar from the center. The jury is still out on that. Nitish Kumar, who has a great sense of entitlement and ego, and a history of heated conflict with Narendra Modi, has been reduced to the stature of a bonsai.
PostScript: Chirag Paswan, head of LJP, who claims to have Modi in his heart as a neo Hanuman, kept his promise: he got only one seat but kept Nitish Kumar’s group out of many, keeping his part of a pact (barely) secret. A consolation prize is coming up from the group that planned their moves.
(Swati Chaturvedi is an author and journalist who has worked with The Indian Express, The Statesman, and The Hindustan Times.)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions that appear in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV assumes no responsibility or liability for them.
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