Bihar on Sunday gave a clear verdict in favour of the Nitish-Lalu combine, rejecting communal issues which were raked up by the BJP.
Bihar on Sunday gave a clear verdict in favour of the Nitish-Lalu combine, rejecting communal issues which were raked up by the BJP. According to observers, Lalu Yadav’s vote bank and Nitish Kumar’s Vikas Purush image helped the Grand Secular Alliance win the election.
Already termed a mini-general election, the Bihar result, according to analysts, holds Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly responsible for the NDA’s loss. They said the loss will have far-reaching implications in elections which are going to be held in other states like Assam and West Bengal. “BJP president Amit Shah’s strategy failed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma didn’t work. It’s about time they change their poll strategies, else Delhi and Bihar may be repeated in other states.”
It is also being understood that the carpet-bombing campaign by the BJP and the use of “communal issues” like beef, Pakistan and personal remarks against Mr Kumar and Mr Yadav may have resulted in the NDA’s loss.
Mr Yadav, who had claimed a “clean sweep”, had earlier said: “The results will also give us strength to fight against communal forces.” He will soon begin an anti-BJP and anti-RSS campaign from Varanasi and will focus on West Bengal. According to observers, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s “untimely use of the anti-reservation statement” is one of the major reasons which weaned away the youth of the state from Mr Modi.
“This is a big win for the Grand Secular Alliance and the BJP was only fighting to sit in the Opposition,” JD(U) state president Basisth Narayan Singh said.
Not only Mr Yadav, political observers too see the NDA’s loss as a clear mandate in favour of development under Mr Kumar.
“Voters have taught the PM a lesson for making lofty but empty promises in the Lok Sabha. People understood their design this time and felt their jumlabaazi may repeat in Bihar,” JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh said in Patna on Sunday.
