Riding high on the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sharpened his criticism of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, particularly targeting his remarks concerning the Waqf Act. Without directly naming Yadav, Modi alluded to the RJD leader's earlier pledge to discard the Waqf Amendment Act if the opposition alliance were to come to power in Bihar.
Addressing a gathering in Surat, Gujarat, following the election results, Modi asserted that the people of Bihar had rejected the "communal poison" being spread, a clear jab at Yadav's stance on the Waqf Act and the RJD's alleged divisive politics. The Prime Minister emphasized that the election outcome demonstrated the state's desire for development and progress. He highlighted a new "MY" formula that contributed to the NDA's victory: Mahila (women) and Yuva (youth).
The NDA secured a decisive win in the Bihar elections, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 89 seats, followed closely by Janata Dal (United) with 85. Together, the NDA coalition won 202 seats in the 243-member Assembly, marking the second time the alliance has crossed the 200 mark in assembly polls. This victory has cemented Nitish Kumar's position for a record tenth term as Chief Minister.
The election results have been a significant setback for the Mahagathbandhan, with the RJD falling to third for the first time since 2010. Despite retaining its 23% vote share, the highest among all parties, the RJD's seat tally has plunged from 75 in 2020 to just 25. The Congress party also faced a sharp decline, shrinking from 19 seats in 2020 to a mere 6.
The Prime Minister also pointed out that the vote share difference between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan was just 10 percent, which he considered significant. He noted that political analysts would need months to fully understand the implications of the Bihar election results.
Earlier in the year, Tejashwi Yadav had publicly stated at a "Save Waqf, Save Constitution" rally that if the opposition alliance came to power, they would "consign to the dustbin" the Waqf Act brought by the Modi government. This statement drew sharp criticism from the BJP, with party spokespersons accusing Yadav of promoting "namazwaad" under the guise of "samajwaad" and attempting to enforce Sharia law. The BJP also questioned Yadav's understanding of the Constitution and the legality of overturning a law passed by Parliament.
The Waqf Act has been a contentious issue, and the INDIA bloc had hardened its stance against it leading up to the Bihar elections. Yadav and other leaders pledged to stop the law's implementation if they came to power. The Congress party also supported Yadav's position, with Tariq Anwar stating that the Congress has always opposed the bill.
The NDA's victory in Bihar has been attributed to several factors, including a meticulously crafted campaign focused on stability, development, and inclusivity. The "double-engine government" narrative, featuring Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, resonated strongly with voters. The NDA also benefited from a flawless seat-sharing formula among alliance partners and broadened caste coalitions beyond traditional alignments. The BJP and JD(U) contested 101 seats each, demonstrating a historic power parity within the NDA. The alliance successfully consolidated upper castes through BJP, while Nitish Kumar's JD(U) secured a strong base among Kurmis and EBCs.
