With Bihar headed to the Assembly elections in October-November this year, the ruling NDA allies, including the BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U), have kicked off their campaigns at various levels, holding joint press conferences to send out a message of unity and highlight the “accomplishments” of the “double engine” NDA governments in the state and at the Centre.
BJP sources said about 60 such press conferences have already been held in different districts across Bihar since this February. At the same time, the NDA allies have also held their coordination meetings at the district level.
“Unlike the INDI (Opposition INDIA or Mahagathbandhan) alliance, the NDA is united,” said a state BJP leader. “Our seat-sharing talks have yet to begin, but our campaigns have already started unitedly. Our message is clear – this is a coherent alliance which instead of bickering aims to deliver results,” he said.
“Attempts have been made to ensure coordination between the two major NDA partners BJP and JD(U) from booths to districts. The Assembly-level coordination between the NDA parties would be done later (after the finalisation of their seat-sharing deal),” the BJP leader said.
Bihar BJP spokesperson Sumit Shashank told The Indian Express, “We are always ready for elections because we have done work for the state.”
In their campaigning from the district level down to panchayats, the NDA leaders have been showcasing various central and state schemes for the development of Bihar and different sections of its people. Ayushman Bharat figures prominently in their campaign, with people being not just told about the scheme but also being helped to enrol in it. The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyami Yojana, which focuses on extending financial assistance to women wanting to establish various businesses, is also being highlighted.
“The Opposition says that bridges have collapsed in Bihar. We do not try to defend it. What we say is that bridges are being built, and any problems that come to our notice are being fixed,” said a BJP leader.
Operation Sindoor has also figured significantly in the ruling camp’s interactions with people, with the NDA leaders highlighting it as a milestone in securing national security and curbing terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The JD(U)’s national working president Sanjay Jha was the head of one of the seven multi-party delegations that was sent to multiple foreign countries to rally global support for India’s Operation Sindoor.
With the caste factor seen to dominate the Bihar polls for decades now, key INDIA players RJD and Congress have been trying to get an edge over the NDA along the caste faultlines. To checkmate the Opposition bloc, the NDA leaders have been claiming that “Nitish was the first CM who got a caste survey conducted successfully in a state”. While the BJP was sceptical about the caste survey when its report was released on Gandhi Jayanti in 2023 (when Nitish was heading the Mahagathbandhan government), the point that the Centre has now notified the 2027 population Census along with caste enumeration, BJP sources say, “provides coherence to the NDA’s attempt to take ownership of it and counter the Opposition’s attack over caste”.
“We have about 16 key Yadav faces. When the RJD talks about Yadavs, it means one family (Lalu Yadav’s family). It is under the NDA that leaders from all castes and backgrounds can also rise,” a BJP leader claimed.
In Bihar, the “upper caste” groups have largely rallied round the BJP, while Yadavs and Muslims have mainly been the RJD’s supporters. Kurmis and sections of the Most Backward Classes (MBCs) have stood by Nitish.
“Social engineering will guide our campaign in several Assembly segments. The issue of caste census will play a major role in the campaign,” said a BJP leader.
The NDA is also looking to make an outreach to women who the alliance considers its major constituency. “Money is sent to her bank account when a girl child is born in the state, a bicycle is given when she is in class 9. Money is also transferred to her account when she is in class 10, class 12 or at graduation level,” said a BJP leader.
The announcement of a Makhana (fox nut) Board for Bihar in this year’s Union Budget had sent out a political message ahead of the polls, given that the state is the largest producer of makhana in the country. A state BJP leader said, “It is largely women, especially Dalit and backward class women, who work in the makhana sector in north Bihar. The thrust given to Makhana by the Narendra Modi government would boost our campaign.”
The NDA camp said they were now ready to contest the polls after holding their coordination meetings for months. “Our alliance is clear that we will contest the elections under the leadership of Nitish ji. The Bihar elections will see a united NDA pooling their resources for campaigning,” a senior NDA leader said.
“The BJP and the JD(U) have chalked out a plan for their senior leaders, including PM Modi, to lead the campaign for the Bihar polls. A shift in focus to the state is likely to start after the PM’s return from his foreign visits later this week,” a BJP insider said.
