The startling result of Bihar Assembly election has proved how deeply democracy as a form of Government remains entrenched in our country. Even if we do not agree with the view that Bihar Assembly results will have far-reaching impact on national politics, yet the fact remains that our active politicians need to learn a few important and unavoidable lessons from this experience. These lessons are directly linked to making our democracy stronger and healthier.
BJP-led NDA contested 157 seats out of 243 seats. Who was the local party ace man to guide, coordinate and strategize assembly election in Bihar? None, of course. Whether advertent or inadvertent, not projecting a local party stalwart was the most important reason for poll disaster of BJP in that State. Both Nitish and Lalu are seasoned Bihari, sons of the soil, with extraordinary grip on social, cultural, political and psychological mindset of the people of their state. No BJP local leader could match either. BJP President Amit Shah may be a good planner and he has proved it in some cases. However, Bihar is a different story. Why did not the BJP high command repose trust in any of the local leaders to the extent of projecting him or her as the most outstanding personality who would build an aura around him? Was it because of inner dissensions and contradictions within the party? Probably yes, as one can guess.
Bihar Assembly results have proved that it was not a sound strategy to field the Prime Minister so freely in Bihar election campaigns. The Prime Minister addressed no fewer than 30 election rallies. We do not have a precedence of any Prime Minister of India making the election that much personal. Perhaps, this could be a record. In all probability, overdoing the campaigning became counter productive. We note that fielding the Prime Minister so often led to trivializing the campaign because the PM felt inclined to take on the opposition leadership in person and not deal extensively with more important issues, social, economic and financial, facing the State. PM Modi somewhat dramatized the grant of financial assistance to the tune of 1.25 lakh crore rupees to Bihar for developmental schemes. The opposition found space to make it an issue of pride and honour for the people of Bihar. Opposition succeeded in its attempt of ridiculing the largesse of the Centre. The ridicule came from no lesser persons than Nitish and Lalu both. It is something different that now the freshly emerged successful Bihar leadership has asked the Centre to honour its commitment of giving Bihar a massive financial assistance.
Looking in retrospect, we find that as Bihar election campaign warmed up, it soon degenerated into cheap and fish-market politics of accusations and counter accusations. In addition, it focused more and more on persons than on issues. Insinuations, aspersions and even intimidation freely flowed on all sides. A number of complaints to this effect came to the notice of the Election Commission before and during the campaigning and polling. He had to warn not ordinary but even veteran leadership engaged in election campaigns. This did not behoove any of them because they are all seasoned politicians.
Bihar elections have once again endorsed the explicit importance of regional political parties and regional political leadership in the country. In a sense, this is an achievement of democracy and must receive due importance. There was once much clamour about Centre interfering in the internal affairs of the States. Sarkaria Commission examined in depth Centre-State relations. States had welcomed the report of this Commission. Whether the recommendations were accepted and implemented or not is a different question. The fact remains that in Bihar regional parties have together won more than two-third majority in the Assembly and this has reduced Center’s leverage in State politics. If this becomes any indicator, we can say that devolution of power has become a reality through democratic process.
Nitish Kumar, while reacting to his thumping victory, said that the new Government in Bihar will seek cooperation of the opposition in improving conditions in Bihar and bringing prosperity to the State. He also seemed to have lowered the pitch of his antagonism towards the Centre and said that assistance from Centre was needed. However, his alter ego, Lalu Prashad has yet to be reconciled to the imperatives of democracy. He cannot continue with perpetual bitterness against the Centre and the Prime Minister. His boast that Bihar election result will mean a big turn in national politics seems an exaggerated claim. Yes, state politics in the country does have its impact on the Centre, but to say that a Government with a massive mandate from the electorate will go away like a paper toy is overstating his strength. Nitish Kumar, whom he has already declared the Chief Ministerial candidate, shall have to rein him in if workable relations with the Centre are desired.
The last but the most important thing one can say is that the people in Bihar and observers outside Bihar are going to watch keenly how the two stalwarts of Bihar are going to pull together in days to come. Given the history of their relationship and their alignments, it is difficult to predict that Nitish and Lalu will be able to go along too long as complimentary to each other. Nitish will be in the seat of power but Lalu has the advantage to pull the rope. We hope that the two leaders will realize the responsibility people have put on their shoulders and that they will work in unison to carry Bihar forward along the path of progress. All acrimony and bitterness has to be forgotten and the old axiom that in politics there are no friends or foes but interests, should help all concerned to think of the nation and not of only the regions.
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