Bihar: As Nitish Kumar gears up for Rajya Sabha, BJP faces big challenges in Patna

Patna: Nitish Kumar will soon step down as Chief Minister of Bihar. He has filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections. His term in the Upper House of Parliament begins in April. He can remain in office until then, but then a replacement will have to be found. Nitish Kumar's exit from Patna is being seen as an opportunity for the BJP in the state.

What are challenges for BJP in Bihar?

Nitish Kumar has been the powerhouse since 2005. Jitan Ram Manjhi, also from the JDU, served as Chief Minister for a brief period. Barring him, Nitish Kumar has been in power for nearly 20 years. His move to Delhi is an opportunity for the BJP, but it comes with challenges.

The primary challenge is that despite the BJP's best efforts, a large section of the backward and Dalit communities consider it a party of the upper castes. The situation in Bihar is unlike that of Uttar Pradesh, where the BSP is weak and no other party other than the SP is very strong. In Bihar, the LJP garners Paswan votes, while Jitan Ram Manjhi is well-established among the Musahars. Furthermore, the votes of the extremely backward communities, including the Kurmi community, are mobilized in favor of the JDU, while Muslims, Yadavs, and some backward communities have also gone with the RJD. Here, we are discussing the base vote of these parties. Depending on their strength or weakness, votes from other communities have been scattered or consolidated in different constituencies.

Can Samrat Chaudhary help BJP in Bihar?

The BJP will have to address this challenge. It has elevated the stature of a leader like Samrat Chaudhary, but a large section remains estranged from it. In such a situation, it will also be necessary to consider whether giving importance to another OBC leader can strengthen its base. In addition to Yadav and Muslim voters, some backward voters also appear to be strongly aligned with Tejashwi. Furthermore, how they perceive Nitish Kumar's absence and the BJP's growing strength will also be crucial. Will they vote for the NDA despite Nitish's perceived weakness? This will be a crucial question, one that the BJP must address.

Now, regarding the second challenge, it is the charismatic personality. Nitish Kumar has been a leader with a magnetic influence in the state. His charisma has been such that even after 20 years in office, the RJD has received nothing but a thank you. Cultivating such a leader is no overnight task, but the leadership will need to be considered by someone who is universally accepted. This poses a significant challenge for the BJP. Speculation continues regarding the new Chief Minister, but no leader's name has yet been finalized. Still, who will be Bihar's Chief Minister? This remains the most intriguing question.