The Election Commission has announced the date of Bihar polls. The country is poised for a significant political event as Bihar plays a key role in defining national politics. It has seen prolonged lawlessness and sluggish development although the last decade was marked by accelerated growth. Since 2012, political instability has overtaken the state sapping good governance. The state needs a decisive verdict in Wednesday’s poll. It means much in the BJP’s reckoning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been deeply involved in the run-up to the elections, addressing rallies and announcing a substantial package. The BJP in the state has put up nobody yet for the Chief Minister’s office. The Prime Minister is in focus and a victory for the BJP will be a victory for him and will also strengthen BJP president Amit
Shah’s position in the party. The NDA government in Parliament will also be better placed to go ahead with reforms. The BJP’s election prospects in UP in 2017 will receive a boost.
On the other hand, the grand alliance against the BJP is going all out to stop the BJP’s triumphal march. An Opposition win will gave it a boost in Parliament and set an example to other parties for united opposition to the BJP in other states. Nitish Kumar got a drubbing in the Parliamentary elections and his Party is weak. A defeat will further weaken it. But if he wins, he will pose a challenge to Modi. Though Lalu Prasad is tainted, his party’s success will show up the strength of the Muslim-Yadav alliance. A win for the Congress, however marginal its position in the state, will enhance its national image.
