In a resounding endorsement of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership, the NDA clinched 8 of 10 seats in Bihar’s 2024 bypolls, outmaneuvering the Mahagathbandhan (MGB). The results solidify Kumar’s ‘phoenix’ persona—a leader who repeatedly resurfaces stronger. Behind this win lay three pillars: women voters, welfare schemes, and Nitish’s governance legacy. Here’s a deep dive into the key factors that shaped the outcome.
1. Women Voters: NDA’s Unshakable Support Base
Nitish Kumar’s women-centric policies proved decisive. Initiatives like:
– Bihar Ladli Behna Yojana (₹2,000/month cash aid)
– 50% panchayat reservation for women
– Jeevika (self-help groups empowering rural women)
Exit polls revealed 65% of women backed the NDA, a testament to Kumar’s targeted welfare approach. The MGB’s lack of a counter-narrative cost them dearly.
2. Welfare Over Caste: NDA’s Winning Formula
While the RJD-led MGB banked on caste arithmetic, the NDA’s welfare-first strategy cut across divisions:
– Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal: Tap water for 98% of households
– PM Garib Kalyan Yojana: Subsidized ration for 8 crore beneficiaries
– Farmer subsidies: Direct transfers for seeds/fertilizers
Nitish’s alliance with BJP, HAM-S, and VIP further united EBCs and Mahadalits, creating a broader coalition.
3. Nitish Kumar: The ‘Sushasan Babu’ Who Defies Odds
From switching allies (RJD in 2015 → NDA in 2017 → RJD in 2022 → NDA in 2024) to retaining his ‘good governance’ image, Kumar’s resilience is unmatched. Rural electrification, expressway projects, and improved law and order kept his credibility intact.
4. BJP’s Grassroots Edge: The Silent Force
The BJP’s booth-level mobilization and synergy with central schemes (Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana) amplified the NDA’s reach. PM Modi’s rallies framed the contest as a vote for “double-engine sarkar” (state + central development).
5. MGB’s Strategic Blunders
- Fractured messaging: Tejashwi’s unemployment focus wasn’t echoed by Left allies.
- Eroding MY base: Muslims and Yadavs split votes between AIMIM and NDA.
- No welfare alternative: Empty promises failed to counter Nitish’s track record.
Road Ahead for Bihar
NDA’s challenges:
– Youth unemployment: Welfare can’t replace jobs forever.
– Alliance stability: Nitish-BJP tensions could resurface.
– Opposition revival: MGB must move beyond caste politics.
With the 2025 elections looming, Nitish’s women-welfare-governance trifecta seems unstoppable—but Bihar’s political sands are always shifting.
(Word count: 600)
