Bihar results ‘not surprising’: Saamana editorial alleges vote theft, says BJP applied Maharashtra ‘formula’ to win polls

‘Scam in Indian democracy’
The editorial described the Bihar verdict as “a scam in Indian democracy” and claimed that the outcome reflected “pre-arranged coordination” between the BJP and the poll body. “Votes were again stolen, based on which the BJP and Nitish Kumar won the election,” it said, adding that citizens would struggle to trust a system where “the gatekeepers of elections help thieves.”

The Sena (UBT) also claimed “the BJP will not hesitate to take control of the JD(U) for the chief minister’s post,” adding that the alliance structure in Bihar was likely to be tested in the coming months.

On Friday, the NDA registered a resounding victory, winning well over the majority mark of 122 seats in the 243-member Assembly. The BJP improved its tally from 74 seats in 2020 to 89 this time. The Janata Dal (United) delivered an even bigger win, jumping from 43 to 85 seats. Together, the alliance effectively decimated the Mahagathbandhan.

The Opposition suffered its worst performance in a decade. The RJD dropped to 25 seats, down from the 75 it had won in the previous poll, while the Congress secured just six seats out of the 61 it contested. In 2020, the party had won 19.

‘Engineered mandate’
The Sena (UBT) pointed to this sharp reversal as evidence of what it called “an engineered mandate,” and claimed that the enthusiasm seen for the Opposition’s campaign did not translate into votes due to “systemic manipulation.”

The editorial said the “Voter Adhikar Yatra” taken out by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar had received “immense support,” alleging that the scale of public participation visible at these events was inconsistent with the electoral outcome.

The party argued that the yatra had mobilised large numbers of young voters, women, and first-time voters, and said the results did not “reflect the ground sentiment in any form.”

The Sena (UBT) also alleged that incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was suffering from “memory loss” and “erratic behaviour” during public engagements. It questioned whether someone “facing such challenges” was capable of leading a complex and politically sensitive state like Bihar.

The editorial further suggested that the BJP might attempt to “take control of the JD(U)” if it sees an opportunity to install its own chief minister in Bihar. It pointed out that the party already has two deputy chief ministers in the state and argued that this could be used to justify a push for leadership change.

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