Modi's Strategic Campaign Propels NDA to Decisive Bihar Victory
The National Democratic Alliance has secured a resounding victory in the Bihar assembly elections, with political analysts and party leaders alike pointing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the central force behind this electoral triumph. The BJP, which secured 89 seats—four more than its alliance partner JD(U)'s 85 in the 243-member assembly—has emerged with enhanced political capital in government formation discussions.
Prime Minister Modi, addressing the Bihar community in Surat on Saturday, paid tribute to the political wisdom of Bihar's electorate. "Bihar ke logon ko rajniti samjhani nahi padti hai, woh duniya ko rajniti samjhane ki taakat rakhte hain", he remarked, acknowledging that the people of Bihar don't need political lessons but rather possess the power to teach politics to the world.
Double Engine Government: The Winning Formula
In Patna, leaders from both BJP and JD(U) were quick to attribute their landslide victory to the successful implementation of the "double engine government" model—combining the development vision of Prime Minister Modi at the center and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the state.
JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha emphasized to reporters that "this victory represents the success of the double engine government, combining the development vision of both Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar."
The BJP's careful planning, with Modi as the strategic fulcrum, included several key initiatives that resonated with voters:
- Special focus on Bihar in the Union Budget, including establishment of the Makhana Board
- Approval of western Kosi canal construction
- Strategic road and rail project approvals
- Region-specific development schemes highlighted throughout the campaign
Modi's Extensive Campaign Blitz Across Bihar
Prime Minister Modi's extensive campaign involvement proved crucial to the NDA's success. According to senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, who won from the Tarapur Assembly seat, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a total of 14 rallies and one roadshow during the election campaign."
These rallies were strategically distributed across key Bihar districts including:
- Samastipur, Begusarai, and Muzaffarpur
- Saran, Nawada, and Bhojpur
- Katihar, Saharsa, and Bhagalpur
- Araria, Kaimur, and Aurangabad
- West Champaran and Sitamarhi
Choudhary described the Bihar victory as a "double stamp" of approval for both Modi and Nitish, highlighting how the Prime Minister consistently praised Nitish Kumar for "good governance" at every public meeting while contrasting the "double engine development model" against what he termed the "jungle raj" of the opposition RJD.
Three-Tier Strategy and Government Formation Talks
BJP state vice-president Santosh Pathak revealed the party's three-level strategy that contributed to their electoral success. "Prime Minister Modi addressed public meetings in Bihar at regular intervals, speaking of development projects for every region; Union Minister Amit Shah held region-wise organizational meetings close to the elections; and Bihar BJP in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan executed micro-management of election preparation with the Bihar team," Pathak explained.
Following the verdict on Friday, the BJP has gained significant leverage in government formation discussions. Sources indicate that key bureaucrats have already initiated contact with top BJP leaders to discuss the formation of the new government.
BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal, Samrat Choudhary, and other senior leaders gathered at the party office on Saturday to deliberate on next steps, including the social combination of BJP ministers in the new cabinet. While the JD(U) and BJP are likely to retain the departments they held in the outgoing government, some new faces are expected from both sides.
The election results have positioned the BJP as the "elder brother" in the alliance with four additional seats, though the party remains cognizant of JD(U)'s importance at the Centre, where the latter's 12 Lok Sabha MPs provide crucial support to the BJP-led government.
As Bihar sets its political course for the next five years, political observers note that this victory not only strengthens the NDA's position in Bihar but also provides the BJP with valuable insights and momentum as it looks toward upcoming electoral battles, particularly in West Bengal next year.
