New mandate in Bihar reflects development

Lalit Garg

(The writer is a journalist and columnist. He can be reached at lalitgarg11@gmail.com)

One thing has become clear from the Bihar Assembly election results that the voter has now become aware and sensible. He examines every incident on the basis of merit and uses his opinion, now neither casteism nor communal politics is influential or dynastic. The issue of the development of the BJP and the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the veteran leader of the ruling coalition, has not proved to be as effective as the young leader of the Opposition grand alliance, Mr. Tejasvi Yadav, who was expected by various exit polls. Because despite Tejashwi's effective performance, dynasty and the politics of the Bihar of the past continued to follow him, while Tejashwi tried his best to wash away these stains.

While the Bihar elections were important in many aspectss, the results were even more shocking and gave new energy to democracy. Honest, stable and development-led selection was paramount for the voters of Bihar. People appeared in search of comparatively better leaders who could strengthen the path of development and employment for all.

It was thought that these elections in the Corona period would create some new political definitions, but the transition of politics in this country despite the transition has not changed much yet. An apprehension was expressed about the Assembly elections of a large state like Bihar and the by-elections in several states that governments may have to bear public anger. But this did not happen; it means that the people appeared satisfied with the government's efforts to fight against the corona epidemic and the various challenges. This is the first election in the midst of the Corona epidemic in which the public's response is of great importance.

Shri Narendra Modi's election tours and political promises have helped to reduce the anti-incumbency among the people, but the BJP's success in the by-elections in Madhya Pradesh can be concluded that the voters want political stability in the state. Not only Madhya Pradesh but also Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, public have given priority to stability and development.

The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal Party once again played the dynastic trump card; it did not have the same effect as it was thought. In politics, power is not a property that is distributed among relatives, bequeathed. Many politicians of the country are engaged in creating a similar role for their family and sons and it also cast a shadow on the Bihar elections. Bihar elections have once again become a lesson in terms of denying the truth of dynasty in power.

How can the people who have been liberated after fighting the 'power of dynasty' forget it so soon? In some ways it is good that the importance of the dynasty tradition in politics is decreasing, being rejected. This hurts some people who want to redeem the role of family. But this is not good for the health of democracy. The public has now come to know that the king now comes out of the ballot box, not through anyone's stomach.

Now the time has come that all political parties should churn on the tragic truth of dynastic politics under the expectations of the people. One of the major reasons for Narendra Modi's magic and charismatic politics is the denial of dynastic politics. For this reason, the RJD has not been able to maintain its influence, which was expected from the election campaign of Tejashwi Babu. Jungleraj of his party and Lalu-Rabri Raj was also a big reason behind this. But this big reality can be easily presented that the election results have not proved the way the opposition Grand Alliance wave was expected, but it has proved that the real player from the ruling coalition is BJP.

The emergence of the BJP as one of the largest parties in the State also proved that the voters considered it important to give importance to the role of national parties in regional politics. At the same time, the performance of the National Party Congress should not be underestimated, it cannot be said to be sufficient to stop its declining credibility. Its percentage has increased in these elections, but the way the Left parties have performed in these elections has made many political observers. Only 29 seats out of 243 were given to these parties of the opposition grand alliance.

The emergence of Leftist parties on the political scene has proved to be a dose and political life-energy for them. The realization of the presence of the Left wing reveals the old political character of Bihar and points towards the changing political discourse in the changed times. Of course, the nationalist discourse of the BJP has been paramount for the voters in these elections, but its anti-extreme views have also come to the surface in these elections. Which shows that the voters are also getting ready for the ground issues raised in the elections, but the rise of the radical communal party Ittehadul Muslimeen in the area of Seemanchal has also raised alarm bells? The culture of Bihar is considered a symbol of communal harmony. The secular image of the state has been adversely affected by Mr. Owaisi's foothold in Bihar.

Looking at the way BJP's seats in the State have increased compared to previous elections and its ally Janata Dal (U)'s seats have decreased, it can be said that people's faith in the BJP is on national unity, empowerment of India and approval of development has to be accepted. It is also a message of inspiration to political parties to maintain their image, policies, political outlook and alliances. The way Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's image was reduced during the election campaign in the shadow of the Prime Minister's popularity, yet the result has come better and the anti-incumbency anger against ruling continuously for 15 years has come down.

Elections in Bihar have been fought on ground issues rather than on dreamy issues. Somewhere in these elections, the issue of good governance has also been working inside and this issue of good governance will be the priority of the new government. The newly formed government with issues of employment, education, health and development will remove the sufferings of a large population of the state dependent on agriculture, a large section of labourers and the poor, the result of these elections will become a means of empowering democracy. Because a positive aspect of these election results is clear that this time the voters of Bihar are going to give a strong opposition along with a stable government.