Bihar Landslide: How 'Jungle Raj' Fears Trumped Change on the Ground

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Bihar, a state with a high proportion of young people, has long been considered ripe for change. With a significant share of people employed in agriculture and a caste-skewed society, it seemed like a perfect storm for a shift in power. However, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) defied expectations, securing a landslide victory in the recent polls. The key to this unexpected outcome may lie in the fears of ordinary people like Minati Devi, a 45-year-old government employee from Gopalganj district. Her family, including her husband and son, rely on manual labor for a living. Despite her aspirations for a better life, Devi's vote was influenced by caution rather than ambition. Her community, like many others in Bihar, has experienced the devastating effects of 'Jungle Raj' – a period marked by the breakdown of law and order, the rise of caste gangs, and the rule of local strongmen. Devi and her neighbors have learned to live with the threat of violence and intimidation, often at the hands of these powerful individuals. The NDA successfully exploited these fears, framing the election as a referendum on the 15-year rule of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) under Lalu Yadav. By highlighting the alleged excesses of the RJD era, the NDA was able to shift the focus away from its own record and onto the perceived weaknesses of the opposition. This strategy achieved several goals. It drowned out the RJD's promise of one million jobs, pushed the opposition on the defensive on law and order, and reminded disenchanted voters of the potential risks of an RJD victory. The NDA also subtly hinted that the dominance of certain castes was still a pressing concern, particularly the Yadavs. As a result, ordinary people like Devi chose a safer option, opting for stability over the promise of change. While this may not have been the outcome many expected, it highlights the complex and often nuanced nature of Indian politics.