Bihar's Political Landscape: Nitish Kumar's Decisive Yet Daunting Tenth Term
Following the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) resounding victory in the Bihar Assembly polls, Nitish Kumar has assumed the role of Chief Minister for a record tenth time, a feat unmatched by any other chief minister in India's history. The Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its editorial dated November 20, highlighted that while the BJP facilitated his return to power, this stint is poised to be markedly different from his previous terms.
The editorial pointed out that senior BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha have retained their positions as Deputy Chief Ministers, with Samrat securing the crucial Home portfolio—a department Nitish Kumar had held for two decades. This shift signals a more assertive role for the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the alliance. The Urdu Times drew a parallel to Maharashtra, where Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde initially led the government with BJP's support but later saw his influence wane, necessitating frequent trips to Delhi to address his concerns with the central leadership.
The massive mandate brings with it immense public expectations. The new government faces the formidable challenge of fulfilling promises on job creation for the youth and curbing migration from the state. Accelerating Bihar's development pace is a task far more complex than the pre-election handout of Rs 10,000 to women, placing a significant onus on the 74-year-old JD(U) chief.
BJP's National Ambitions: The Uphill Battle in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala
Buoyed by its success in Bihar, the BJP is intensifying its preparations for the states heading to the polls in 2026. According to a November 22 editorial from the Bengaluru-based Salar, the party aims to replicate its 'Bihar model' in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala—states where it has never been in power.
The editorial noted that in Bihar, the BJP effectively leveraged the constituency of women and invoked the fear of a return to 'jungle raj' under Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD. A similar strategy is anticipated in West Bengal, where the party will likely project the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government as synonymous with lawlessness.
However, Salar emphasized that replicating this model will be an uphill task. In Kerala, the LDF government under CM Pinarayi Vijayan has bucked the trend by securing two consecutive terms. The BJP, which failed to retain even a single seat in the 2021 elections that it had won in 2016, faces a significant challenge in expanding its footprint. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP's alliance with the AIADMK has been marked by discord, with both partners making conflicting claims about leadership in a potential victory. Their previous alliance in 2021 had ended in failure.
Internal Strife in Karnataka Congress and the Tragic Toll on Election Officials
The Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its November 22 editorial, turned its focus to the internal churn within the Karnataka Congress as the Siddaramaiah government completed two-and-a-half years in office. The editorial reported that several Congress MLAs visited Delhi to meet AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, lobbying for ministerial berths in an impending cabinet reshuffle and advocating for Deputy CM and state party chief D K Shivakumar's claim to the top post.
While acknowledging Shivakumar's pivotal role in the Congress's 2023 electoral victory in Karnataka, the editorial suggested that his elevation to Chief Minister faces hurdles, including pending cases against him. This internal power tussle, Siasat warns, provides the BJP with a strategic advantage to stage a political comeback in the state. For the Congress, which is reeling from its Bihar debacle and facing disquiet within the Opposition INDIA bloc, losing power in Karnataka would be a significant blow to its national credibility and campaign momentum. The editorial urged the Congress leadership to proactively resolve the impasse through consensus.
In a separate but critical development, the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been marred by tragedy. Since the process began last month across 12 states and Union Territories, there have been reports of several deaths and suicides among Booth Level Officers (BLOs). These incidents are allegedly linked to excessive workload and stress from added responsibilities. The situation has escalated in some states, with BLOs staging protests and administrations responding with crackdowns, keeping this issue in the spotlight of Urdu press coverage.
