Bihar Legislative Elections 2020 – the acid test for Nitish Kumar

When it comes to a real tussle between the political parties for any elections in North India, it’d be Bihar along with West Bengal, UP, and Rajasthan. Bihar legislative elections always catch everybody’s eyeballs and it becomes the talk of the nation. There are five highly influencing parties fighting elections.

The weather of politics in Bihar state is quite difficult to gauge and, therefore, it is becoming difficult for almost all the election Pundits to predict the winning party accurately. Currently, Nitish Kumar is on the highest seat of the state with the help of BJP and others. Here are a few points because of which, Nitish Kumar will have to undergo a robust litmus test –

•  Issues of migrants
• Obvious anti-incumbency
• Stance on triple-talaq
• Handling of covid19
• Managing natural disaster such as floods
• LJP’s stand on NDA’s chief ministerial candidacy
• BJP’s stand on the Chief Minister’s candidature

Let’s check each party and its position.

RJD:

the party has seen flawless victories for past several years. The leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav has been an undisputed helmsman of the party; nevertheless, Rabri Devi handled the party when he was jailed. The family dispute is not a secret anymore and hence, this could be the biggest impediment in RJD’s victory in Bihar legislative elections 2020.

JDU:

the ruling party always have better hold on people and power. It is for this reason, the legacy of Nitish Kumar may continue. The clean and fair image of his ‘gathbandhan’ has really shown fair results in the elections. Thus, if the party fights with LJP and BJP backing, there are high chances that the CM chair is retained.

BJP:

the Modi wave and magic factors have been a bit diminished but not vanished. The recent topsy-turvy rides in other states have made BJP somewhat weaker. Nevertheless, the power and super brain of the Chanakya of BJP can do wonders. He’s expert in converting people into BJP by hook or by crook. They have to depend on JDU in order to be in power and position.

INC:

the sinking ship of Indian National Congress may continue its poor performance. Back then, Bihar couldn’t exist without INC, but today, the picture has completely changed. That said, if INC fights the election on its own, it’d shrink to 3-3.5% votes. With no backing from RJD or JDU, the sole existence of INC is illusive.

LJP:

if something can define ‘luck’, it’s LJP! Their alliance always takes the other party to the center. In other words, whoever comes to power in the central government, just before that, the party offers their friendship for political gains. The party knows how the wind flows and that is why, they had seven and six Lok Sabha MP seats due to support from BJP and JDU
last year.

Overall, the picture is quite clear provided the alliance remains the same. Nitish Kumar would probably pass the litmus test and the chair would remain with him.