Bihar elections: Castes in field while development in fridge

For the first time in history of Bihar assembly elections, the electoral mobilization has become complex and multifaceted. When the campaign was started, the political parties tried to win the voters on developmental plank; performance cards were being presented before the public by JDU-led ‘Grand alliance’ and BJP-led NDA, but now have drastically turned into the fight between backwards and forwards, mandal raj and kamandal raj. Development has taken a backseat while caste arithmetic is dominating the campaign trail. After parting ways with JDU, the BJP tried to bring tainted Lalu Prasad Yadav at the centre of electoral fight and reminded his jungle raj regime. The saffron outfit lambasted him of being corrupt and a symbol of mal governance through its aggressive campaign. Yadav, who himself wanted to emerge as a centric figure started raking up the issues of backwards-forwards, mandal-kamandal and reservation policy, in which he was successful and got support from a chunk of his castemen. Those Yadavs who are illiterate and find pride in their casteman have vociferously stood behind Lalu Prasad in spite of knowing the fact that he is not going to do anything for them.

Lalu, who is known for his shrewd political acumen knew if he has to place his ‘bunch of children’ in politics, this is the right time to hit the nail. Forming alliance with JDU and Congress despite Nitish’s apprehensions of taking RJD into its alliance ahead of formal announcement of contesting together, was a part of his calculative strategy. He had an idea as when to hammer the wall. In a series of his campaign trail, he always raked up the issues revolving around ‘yaduvanshis’. He knew minority is not going anywhere and focused on Yadavs who had disenchanted with him since the last general elections. Once they are consolidated, the minority will voluntarily come to his side as they have nothing to do with development, growth, economy or education but they do have in order to defeat the BJP.

 

 This election may or may not bring any fruitful results to Lalu but the next election would surely be made him first among equals. Scores of political pundits believe he is trying to position himself as a central figure and regain the lost ground. Raising the issues of ‘Brahamans’, appealing the backwards to stand against this community and fight against them are all a part of his broader political strategy.

This election would prove to be the most disastrous for chief minister Nitish Kumar as he would have nothing to offer to his partymen, if loses out to BJP.  Dissents voices would erupt very belligerently in the party and the dissenters will find their favourite destination to spend their remaining political life at ease. Kumar would take Rajya Sabha route to enjoy the politics of Lutyens’ Delhi. We have seen in the past too, when he was made the chief minister for the first time, he had said that he will not leave Bihar until removing the RJD government from Patna. After failing to prove the majority, he had to resign from the post, left Patna and became minister in the Vajpayee government.