JD(U)-RJD-Cong alliance a challenge to BJP

It was the demand on the ground politically to form JD (U)-RJD- Congress alliance to fight BJP-led NDA in the coming Bihar assembly elections. The alliance of the three parties may have been formed out of compulsion and they have not come together by heart, but to give a tough fight to the rising BJP in Bihar. Although Nitish-Lalu-Congress pair has already shown its strength in the by elections for some assembly seats last year in Bihar where it had defeated BJP-led NDA convincingly, they have to repeat their performance in the whole state. It is also the ground reality that no single party JD(U), RJD or Congress can stop the victory chariot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar assembly elections alone. But when they fight together, they have the strength to defeat BJP. As far as the state leadership is concerned, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of JD(U) is the most popular face in the state. BJP can not match JD(U)-RJD-Congress leadership of Nitish Kumar. So it is most probably going to project PM Modi as its face in assembly elections, though his popularity graph has undoubtedly fallen down after one year in power. It is also the fact that the people on the ground have not felt any change for better on any count in the last one year of Narendra Modi regime. As far as the seat distribution among JD(U)-RJD-Congress is concerned, they can settle it amicably. Congress has played a pivotal role in forming the alliance with Nitish Kumar as its candidate for chief ministership with the sole motive to stop the victory spree of BJP in Bihar after Delhi. RJD boss Lalu was initially opposed to the declaration of CM candidate before election but the Congress mounted pressure on him to toe the line otherwise he would be left alone in the state as it had already announced of no reservation in fighting elections under Nitish Kumar as CM candidate. Lalu read the writing on the wall and agreed to the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Nitish- Lalu-Congress coming together has also taken seriously the caste factor, which is the single most important factor in Bihar elections. Caste-wise both RJD and JD(U) have very strong grip on their vote banks. While JD(U) has votes among Yadavs, Kurmis, OBCs, Mahadalits and others, RJD has very support of Yadavs and Muslims. Though Congress has no strong vote base in the state, it has an important role in tilting the balance. With BJP-led NDA on upswing after the Lok Sabha history victory, the fight with JD(U)-RJD and Congress is going to be very close. Bihar being an important state politically, BJP-led NDA would also put every thing into it to come out victorious in the coming assembly elections. But the performance of JD(U)-RJD-Congress fighting together in assembly by polls last year is anything to go by, Bihar will prove to be a very tough task for PM Modi to record victory in the coming assembly.