Page 5 - The Indian EYE 112125

COVER STORY NOVEMBER 21, 2025 | The Indian Eye 5

Raj” memories of the RJD era. Every the NDA’s mandate as a national
speech reminded voters not of what Bi- endorsement of the politics of devel-
har could become, but of what it once opment, stability, welfare, and social
was — extortion, kidnappings, and cohesion. Modi’s appeal to inves-
lawlessness — and what it must never tors — urging them to see Bihar as a
return to. Modi’s repeated invocation growth destination — further expand-
of “Katta Sarkar” was not a throw- ed the narrative from electoral victory
away jibe; it was a targeted trigger. to economic rebirth. If he succeeds,
Bihar’s turnout — the highest Bihar becomes not just a political
since 1951 — revealed the depth of stronghold but a development show-
mobilization. The Election Commis- case in the BJP’s broader national
sion recorded 67.13% voting, with narrative heading into 2026 and even-
women surging ahead at 71.6%, their tually 2029.
highest participation in decades. This The NDA’s Bihar victory under-
new electorate — aspirational, polit- scores a deeper transition underway
ically aware, and driven by welfare in Indian politics. The electorate is
benefits — responded directly to Mo- not merely voting against misgover-
di’s repeated promise: “every family, nance but actively voting for delivery,
every caste, every religion will get op- stability, and cultural respect. The op-
portunity, respect, and equality.” In a position’s attempts to frame elections
state where caste arithmetic tradition- around caste formulas, identity griev-
ally dominated, the NDA succeeded Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) leader Chotu Singh offers a sweet to a poster ances, or anti-Modi rhetoric continu-
by altering the equation altogether. of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to celebrate NDA’s lead in Bihar assembly elections, ally run into a wall: Modi’s dominance
But the NDA’s victory was not has shifted the axis of politics. Bihar has
just the result of its own strengths; it in Patna on Friday. (ANI Photo) now confirmed that shift once more.
was equally the product of the Ma- For Modi, the message from
hagathbandhan’s disarray. The RJD ance-wide seat-sharing, and Modi’s victory handed the BJP psychologi- Bihar was clear — the electorate
struggled to unify its own base, Con- “Congress is a liability” remark found cal momentum, renewed cadre con- rewarded a governance model that
gress failed to energies even its tra- unexpected resonance within the IN- fidence, and an electoral template to combined welfare with aspiration, na-
ditional pockets, and the alliance’s DIA bloc itself. By the end of count- deploy in Bengal’s rural belt. tionalism with development, cultural
messaging was inconsistent. Rahul ing, even some allies quietly agreed. Modi also used the Bihar stage to pride with administrative stability.
Gandhi’s comments about Chhath For Modi, the political signifi- send a warning shot to the opposition For the opposition, the message was
Puja — one of Bihar’s most revered cance of the Bihar sweep extends far nationally. His attack on Congress as equally clear — their formulas are
festivals — became a political flash- beyond Patna. He made it explicit that “MMC — Muslim League Maoist outdated, their messaging fragment-
point, amplified relentlessly by the the momentum would flow down- Congress” underscored his strategy ed, and their alliances brittle.
BJP. Modi capitalized on this vulner- stream along the Ganga — toward of defining Congress not merely as an As Modi said, this is the begin-
ability, presenting himself as a custo- West Bengal. His language was point- electoral weakling but as an ideolog- ning of a “golden 25-year journey”
dian of Bihar’s cultural identity, even ed: “Together, we will uproot Jungle ical outlier disconnected from an in- for Bihar. But p olitically, it may also
linking Chhath to a UNESCO heri- Raj from West Bengal as well.” In creasingly aspirational electorate. His be the beginning of an aggressive new
tage proposal. Bengal, the BJP’s core pitch resem- prediction of a potential “major split” phase for the BJP in India’s eastern
Meanwhile, Owaisi’s AIMIM bles its Bihar playbook — a gover- inside Congress was also a provoca- belt. Bihar was the battle. Bengal is
once again played the role of a spoil- nance vs. lawlessness binary, with the tion designed to unsettle INDIA bloc the war. And the Ganga — as Modi
er that the Mahagathbandhan failed TMC replacing RJD as the alleged unity before 2026. repeatedly reminded — flows in only
to counter. AIMIM’s victory in five custodian of “jungle raj.” The Bihar At the same time, he positioned one direction.
Seemanchal seats — a region where
the Muslim vote often makes or AND THE WINNERS ARE…
breaks the election — damaged the
RJD-Congress arithmetic decisively. he final tally of seats de-
For the MGB, it was a death by frag- clared by the Election Com-
mentation. Owaisi insisted he was Tmission on Friday:
merely representing Seemanchal’s • Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - 89
long-neglected voice, but strategical- • Janata Dal (United) - 85
ly, the outcome was unambiguous: • Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) - 25
the more AIMIM grew, the faster the • Lok Janshakti Party
opposition collapsed. (Ram Vilas) (LJPRV) - 19
The BJP understood this dynam- • Indian National Congress (INC) - 6
ic well and capitalized on it. While • All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul
it consolidated Hindu votes across Muslimeen (AIMIM) - 5
caste segments — upper castes, • Hindustani Awam Morcha
EBCs, OBCs, Mahadalits — the RJD (Secular) (HAMS) - 5
watched its old MY fortress erode. • Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RSHTLKM) - 4
The Muslim-Yadav base splintered, • Communist Party of India (M),
both communities drifting towards CPI(ML)(L) - 2
different poles: Muslims towards • Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) - 1
AIMIM, Yadavs divided between loy- • Communist Party of India
alty and disenchantment. Congress Bihar assembly LoP Tejashwi Yadav addresses a press conference (Marxist) - CPI(M) - 1
contributed little. Its candidates failed at his official residence, in Patna (ANI Photo) • Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - 1
to impress, its presence dragged alli-

www.TheIndianEYE.com