NDA's Resounding Victory in Bihar Elections
The National Democratic Alliance has secured a massive victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, with the Janata Dal (United) achieving a remarkable turnaround by nearly doubling its seat count from 43 in 2020 to 85 seats in the current polls. The BJP secured 89 seats, making the coalition's victory decisive across the state.
The Dream Combination: Modi and Nitish
In an exclusive interview, JD(U)'s national working president Sanjay Jha highlighted what he called the "dream combination" of having Narendra Modi as Prime Minister and Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister. He emphasized that this partnership played a crucial role in the NDA's success, with the PM visiting Bihar almost every month in recent years to launch various projects.
Jha pointed to three key factors behind the victory: Nitish Kumar's 20-year performance creating pro-incumbency, the double-engine government at center and state, and the hope for Bihar's future among voters. He stressed that Bihar has now moved beyond caste politics, with development and progress becoming the primary voting considerations.
Jobs and Industrialization: The Priority Agenda
The JD(U) leader outlined the new government's priorities, emphasizing that the next five years will focus on youth employment. The party has promised to create one crore jobs through increased investment and industrial development across all districts of Bihar.
"Bihar is now in a take-off stage," Jha stated, noting that the state missed economic opportunities during the 1991-92 economic reforms period but is now positioned to attract significant industrial activity with support from the central government.
Other priorities include skilling programs for Bihar's large youth population and continuing women's empowerment initiatives. Jha defended the government's transfer of Rs 10,000 to women's accounts, describing it as funding for enterprise rather than freebies.
Addressing Opposition Allegations
Responding to opposition claims about "vote theft" and health concerns regarding the 74-year-old Chief Minister, Jha dismissed these as baseless. He highlighted that Nitish Kumar conducted 73 election rallies and traveled over 600 kilometers by road when helicopters couldn't fly due to rain.
The JD(U) leader also attributed the party's improved performance to better ticket distribution, early campaign preparation, and seamless coordination among NDA partners at both leadership and ground levels.
With the NDA crossing the 200-seat mark in the 243-member assembly, Jha expressed confidence in the coalition's ability to deliver on its promises and transform Bihar's economic landscape in the coming years.
