Bihar Landslide: NDA's Coalition Calculus Pays Off, BJP Emerges Stronger

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{ "title": "Bihar Landslide: NDA's Coalition Calculus Pays Off, BJP Emerges Stronger", "article": "The 2025 Bihar assembly election was a defining moment for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a testament to the power of coalition politics. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a key player in the NDA, had to navigate a delicate balance between its own interests and those of its allies, including the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Despite anti-incumbency and a seemingly energized opposition, the NDA secured a landslide victory, winning 202 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 89 seats, a significant achievement considering it has never had a chief minister in the state. Party leaders attribute the NDA's success to its smart alliance politics, the choice of the right campaign issues, and the ability to leverage the popularity of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The coalition brought together a diverse range of parties, each with its dedicated caste-based vote bank, ensuring a broad appeal. The BJP had to adopt a less dominant role in the state, allowing its allies to take the lead. This strategic move paid off, as the coalition presented a united front, with no differences or disagreements in the campaign. Workers from across the nation worked together, canvassing for the allies, including the JDU and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). The campaign focused on two key planks: development and welfare schemes of the twin-engine government, and the opposition's misrule, or "Jungle Raj," during the 1990s. Party leaders highlighted the improvements in law and order under Nitish Kumar and contrasted it with the violence and electoral malpractices of the past. The BJP also wooed beneficiaries of government schemes, known as "labarthis," with budgetary allocations worth ₹60,000 crore and a cash transfer of ₹10,000 under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojna. This move proved to be a game-changer, with women from Muslim and Yadav communities voting against their families to support the NDA. The BJP avoided a negative campaign, refraining from making incendiary remarks or polarizing comments. Instead, it focused on the development-driven agenda of the NDA, positioning Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi as a formidable force. The opposition's over-reliance on the Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) combination ultimately led to its undoing, while the sharp rise in the tally of the JDU, BJP, and LJP is seen as a manifestation of people's faith in the alliance government's schemes for women, young people, and deprived sections. The NDA's victory is a testament to the power of coalition politics and the ability to transcend caste and religious barriers. It marks a significant shift in Bihar's politics, where the concept of GYAN (garib, yuva, annadata, nari- Poor, Youth, Farmers and Women) has ushered in a new era of development-driven politics."