India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a crucial test in the eastern state of Bihar, as millions of voters begin casting their ballots in a fiercely contested state election. Voting in Bihar is taking place in two phases, with the first phase on Thursday and the second phase next Tuesday. The results are due next Friday.
The outcome of this election carries significant weight for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, especially after the party lost its outright majority in last year's parliamentary polls and now relies heavily on regional allies. A victory for the BJP-led alliance in Bihar would not only bolster Modi's authority within his party and its ideological parent, the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, but also tighten his grip on national politics.
The BJP is in a close contest with a rival alliance comprising the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress. Analysts predict a tight race, with Kingshuk Nag, an independent political commentator, noting that the BJP has historically struggled to win elections in Bihar without the support of a regional party.
The election in Bihar, India's poorest state, highlights concerns about the country's widening wealth gap, particularly in rural areas plagued by poverty and unemployment. More than a third of households in Bihar live on a little over $2 a day. Infrastructure weaknesses and underfunded schools and hospitals further compound these challenges.
Both the BJP-led alliance and the opposition have centered their campaigns on local concerns, with competing welfare pledges dominating the race. Cash transfers to women, who form a decisive voting bloc, and job creation for younger voters struggling to find employment are key issues. The BJP-led alliance has also sought to remind voters of the corruption and lawlessness associated with the opposition's past tenure.
Prime Minister Modi has urged voters to participate in the election with "full enthusiasm," emphasizing the importance of establishing a government for a "Viksit Bihar". He has also targeted the opposition, accusing them of promoting corruption and poor governance, while highlighting the improvements in governance under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The entry of Prashant Kishor, a former political strategist, into the electoral arena has added another layer of complexity to the state elections. Kishor, now the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, has previously orchestrated successful campaigns for several leaders, including Modi and Kumar.
Voting is underway across half of Bihar's 243 constituencies in the first phase, with the remaining constituencies set to vote next Tuesday. The first phase will see over 3.75 crore voters cast their ballots in 121 constituencies. This phase is particularly significant for the Mahagatbandhan, which secured 63 of these seats in the 2020 election. The BJP and Janata Dal (United) together had won 55.
