Post by : Rameen Ariff

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to achieve a striking victory in Bihar's state elections, as early polling results poured in on Friday. This anticipated success comes as a significant uplift for Modi following a challenging national election last year, where his party lost its majority in Parliament.

Bihar, the third most populous state in India with approximately 130 million residents, plays a pivotal role in the country's political landscape. The state is responsible for sending the fifth-largest delegation to Parliament, making its governance crucial for shaping national politics and narratives across the Hindi heartland.

According to data from the Election Commission of India, the NDA is leading in over 170 seats, comfortably surpassing the majority threshold of 122 in the state assembly. Reports suggest that the alliance might secure as many as 191 seats, representing a potential gain of 69 seats from the previous election.

“Bihar has spoken!” tweeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “The clear message from the people is that development is the key focus. Good governance, not chaos, is essential!”

Political analysts attribute part of the NDA's success to Modi’s September initiative that allocated 75 billion rupees ($853 million) to women under a state employment program. This initiative seems to have energized female voters, a demographic that has played an increasingly decisive role in Indian elections over recent years.

Amitabh Tiwari, a political analyst who surveyed voters throughout Bihar, noted that the support from women voters was significant to the NDA’s projected success. Tiwari's VoteVibe survey indicates that Modi's coalition garnered 48.5% of the female vote, surpassing the key opposition bloc by over 10 percentage points.

This victory in Bihar symbolizes a political resurgence for Modi, who has slowly regained momentum through various state elections after last year's national electoral challenges. Additionally, it establishes a formidable position for the NDA ahead of forthcoming elections in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, set to occur next year, with the BJP currently governing only Assam.

The results in Bihar shed light on the effective blend of development-centric policies and targeted outreach strategies, reinforcing Modi’s approach of intertwining welfare initiatives with a strong governance narrative. Analysts believe that this outcome could shape not only future state elections but also national politics, likely bolstering the NDA’s standing as they prepare for upcoming parliamentary battles.

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