The BJP got a loud wake-up call after Bihar scripted a clear rout for the party in the assembly elections. Already termed as the most definitive electoral defeat, this clear mandate against the BJP-led NDA might create jolt in the confidence of the alliance. Instead of speculating on possible ramifications of this loss, let’s try to pinpoint the reasons that have worked against the BJP, because the party has lot to learn from this defeat.
Developing a Local Base Has No Alternatives
The first and foremost lesson for BJP should be to present a local face ahead of assembly elections. Modi, who was the only mascot for the party, has been humbled once again after the drubbing during the Delhi assembly elections. A national leader might bring acche din for his party during general elections, but to win state elections, having a local leader is essential. There’s a reason why the ‘Bahari vs Bihari’ slogan got the attention. The BJP, I reckon, did a similar mistake during Delhi assembly elections, when it sidelined Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
Secondly, the BJP’s style of election campaigning demands a complete paradigm shift wherein throwing weight behind Modi and Amit Shah should not be the only option. Instead of bringing national leaders to the local stage, the party needs to invest in cultivating a powerful local leadership.
Polemics and Alliances Don’t Win Elections
Thirdly, the BJP needs to get this thing straight: forming alliances may not always make you stronger, especially when you are allying with players whose political prowess is being questioned. Siding with Jitan Ram Manjhi or Upendra Kushwaha was hardly enough to counter the weight of Nitish-Lalu combine.
Fourthly, polemics against someone (read Nitish) who has done a lot to develop the state can never portray a party in good light. While the work done by Nitish was evident on the ground, there was nothing that PM Modi could claim having achieved. The personal attacks made by Modi and Shah and their attempts at raising concerns over the possibility of the return of the ‘Jungle Raj’ didn’t go well with the politically alert people of Bihar.
Politics of Interference and Indifference is Not Accepted
Fifthly, there was a growing belief that BJP is affecting the federal structure of the country by needlessly interfering in state’s affairs. The Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had once asserted that if the BJP’s “interference” in states’ governance does not stop, chief ministers of states may form a coalition against the party.
Next lesson for BJP is equally important. PM Modi’s perennial silence on Dadri lynching incident and the killings of dalits pushed the party to the corner. With BJP leaders refusing to condemn the lynching of a Muslim man by a Hindu mob for allegedly eating beef, people of Bihar voted for those candidates who have the potential to outdo the BJP. The anti-BJP mood led to anti-NDA votes.
Focus on Social Issues Long Overdue
Fourthly, Nitish Kumar’s emphasis on social indicators helped him win the confidence of his people. This is where BJP didn’t enjoy a favorable perception. The party at the Centre should have also focussed on farmers and middle-class citizenry rather than going out full throttle to woo industrialists.
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