BJP tactical victory in Bihar

The Narendra Modi led Bhartiya Janata Party, BJP, has won a big tactical victory in the Bihar Assembly elections. The party, along with its ally, the Janata Dal United of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has beaten back the challenge from the opposition alliance of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Left parties. At the same time, the BJP has cut its ally, the JDU to size, reducing it to the position of a junior partner in the coalition.
The BJP has ended up with nearly two thirds seats more than the JDU in the 243 member State Assembly. Even if Nitish Kumar continues as Chief Minister, as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the elections, his political clout will be much reduced. Nominally, Nitish Kumar may be the leader of the coalition, but he would have to follow the dictates of the BJP in crucial matters.
The BJP tactics have also ensured that the opposition RJD-Congress alliance remains away from the elixir of power.Primarily, two factors have led to the defeat of the challenge posed by the opposition Mahagathbandhan led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. One of course is the chipping of the Mahagathbandhan vote bank by the presence of the alliance of AIMIM and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. This led to the defeat of the opposition alliance in Muslim dominated areas.
Another crucial factor appears to be the support of women voters favouring the prohibition policy  enforced by the Nitish Kumar government. Reports say that women turned out in larger numbers to exercise their franchise.At the same time, Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, LJP, which is otherwise an NDA constituent, fought against the JDU, severely denting its performance in the Assembly elections.
While the Narendra Modi led dispensation has achieved its objective of retaining power in Bihar, the long term impact will become clear only after some time. It will depend upon how Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reconciles to his position of a junior partner in the coalition he heads in name.

(Political Analyst)