A recently released survey regarding Bihar assembly elections has created panic in the camp of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The survey conducted by an agency called ‘Vote Vive’ shows a strong ‘anti-incumbency wave’ against the government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which has increased the concern of the NDA.
The results of the survey are shocking. When people were asked how happy they were with the functioning of CM Nitish Kumar and his government, 48 percent people directly expressed their unhappiness. Only 27 percent people supported the functioning of the government, while 20 percent people adopted a neutral stance and 4 percent replied ‘cannot say anything’.
The survey found particularly high levels of dissatisfaction among young and rural voters. A sample of 52 percent male and 48 percent female voters was taken for the survey, which included 70 percent rural and 30 percent urban people. These data show that a large section of voters in both rural and urban areas are not happy with the performance of the current government.
The most worrying thing is that 55 percent of young voters aged 18 to 34 years have expressed their unhappiness towards the Nitish government. This figure is very dangerous for NDA, because young voters can change the trend of any election. The resentment of the youth is directly linked to employment, education and future expectations. The dissatisfaction of rural voters also shows that the government’s schemes have not had as much impact at the ground level as is being claimed. Basic amenities like electricity, water, roads and health still remain important issues for the village people.
These survey results clearly indicate that the path to return to power will not be easy for the NDA. The main basis of Nitish Kumar’s politics has been ‘good governance’ i.e. the model of good governance, but the unhappiness of 48 percent people shows that this model is now weakening among the public. Issues like law and order, lack of employment and corruption have become the priority of the voters.
Opposition parties, especially Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, have been continuously cornering the government on the issues of employment, inflation and crime. This survey further strengthens his allegations. If the opposition is able to successfully capitalize on this dissatisfaction and unite the dissatisfied voters on its side, then it can prove to be a big challenge for the NDA. This survey not only presents an electoral picture but also reflects the mood of the voters in Bihar, which can play a decisive role in the upcoming elections.