In the lead-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is recalibrating its political strategy following Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Adhikar Yatra" and facing a resurgent opposition. The BJP aims to counter the opposition's campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and consolidate the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Simultaneously, the party seems to be reviving the "Jungle Raj" narrative to discredit its primary opponents, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress.

Toned-Down SIR Strategy

Initially, the BJP framed the SIR as an exercise to weed out illegal immigrants from voter lists. However, the opposition has alleged that the SIR is a politically motivated attempt to disenfranchise voters, particularly minorities and marginalized communities. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused the Election Commission of acting at the behest of the BJP to manipulate voter rolls. Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Adhikar Yatra," amplified these concerns, drawing significant crowds and putting the BJP on the defensive.

In response, the BJP has toned down its rhetoric on the SIR, shifting focus to highlighting the importance of fair elections and countering the opposition's claims of voter suppression. The party is now emphasizing that the SIR aims to remove duplicate, deceased, and shifted voters from the rolls. To further address the issue, the BJP is planning to organize booth-level camps to assist voters with enrollment and address any wrongful deletions.

"Jungle Raj" Digs

With the assembly elections approaching, the BJP appears to be reviving the "Jungle Raj" narrative, a term used to describe the alleged lawlessness and misgovernance during the RJD's rule in Bihar. This strategy aims to remind voters of the state's past and highlight the perceived improvements in law and order under the NDA government. At a rally, Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that Bihar must choose between "Jungle Raj" and the "double engine" government of the NDA, emphasizing development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

However, this strategy carries risks. Some argue that the "Jungle Raj" narrative is overblown and that crime statistics do not necessarily support the claim that the RJD era was significantly more lawless than subsequent administrations. Additionally, focusing solely on the past may alienate younger voters who have no direct experience of the RJD's rule. The RJD has also hit back, accusing the BJP of misrepresenting facts and pointing to instances of crime and corruption during the NDA's tenure.

Consolidating NDA

A crucial element of the BJP's strategy is to reinforce unity within the NDA. The party plans to hold joint meetings with alliance partners in every Assembly seat to demonstrate a united front. The central leadership has instructed that all NDA leaders be present at these meetings, with prominent display of alliance flags. By showcasing the achievements and schemes of both the central and state governments, the BJP hopes to dilute any gains made by the opposition's campaign.

Focus on Key Seats

The BJP is paying close attention to 39 seats where the winning or losing margin was less than 10,000 votes in the last assembly elections. The party's primary focus will be to retain the 21 seats they won with small margins while attempting to win the 18 they lost by similar margins. This targeted approach reflects a data-driven strategy to maximize their chances of success in the upcoming elections.

Overall, the BJP's revised strategy for the Bihar Assembly elections involves a multi-pronged approach: moderating its stance on the SIR, reviving the "Jungle Raj" narrative, consolidating the NDA, and focusing on key constituencies. The party's success will depend on its ability to effectively communicate its message, counter the opposition's narrative, and maintain unity within its alliance.