Has BJP made a big bet in Bihar elections by making Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh the MLC candidate? Is there any secret strategy hidden behind the return of Pawan Singh, who returned the ticket in 2024? Does the announcement of JD(U)’s 4 candidates indicate a new balance of power within the NDA? Will this election of 9 seats of Bihar Legislative Council decide the direction of the coming elections?
Patna: Once again such an earthquake has occurred in the politics of Bihar which has surprised everyone from political analysts to the general public. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal United (JD-U) have opened their cards for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) elections. But the biggest suspense and explosion in this entire electoral chessboard has come from the BJP’s list, which has prepared to send Bhojpuri cinema’s ‘Powerstar’ Pawan Singh directly to the House.
After all, why did BJP play this gamble now?
Pawan Singh came into limelight during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when he refused to contest the elections from Asansol seat of West Bengal after accepting the BJP ticket. That incident had raised many questions regarding the relationship between the party and Pawan Singh. Now after making him the MLC candidate, there is discussion in political circles whether BJP wants to strengthen its social and cultural influence by giving him an important role in the organization, or is it just a political adjustment. The answer to this question currently lies in the future. Along with Pawan Singh, BJP has also given the message of strengthening its organizational hold by declaring its old and trusted leader Sanjay Mayukh as its candidate again.
Nitish Kumar’s ‘Women’s Card’: Mathematics of JDU’s four seats
On one hand, BJP has prepared a cocktail of glamor and politics, while on the other hand, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) has very quietly played its traditional and strong social engineering strategy. JDU on Friday announced the names of its four candidates for the upcoming Upper House elections. Biennial elections are to be held on a total of nine seats of Bihar Legislative Council, while by-elections are to be held on one seat. This time JDU has made its biggest bet on women empowerment and regional representation. Under this strategy of the party, two women faces are going to be entered in the Legislative Council, which will further strengthen Nitish Kumar’s ‘silent voter’ bank.
Who are the four faces on which JDU’s credibility rests?
In this new list of JDU, regional balance has been maintained very well. The party has declared Bharti Mehta, resident of Madhubani district, and Shivrani Devi Prajapati of West Champaran as candidates. By promoting the names of these two women, JDU has tried to deepen its penetration among half the population. Apart from this, JDU has also made Nishant Kumar, the young face of Patna district, its candidate. At the same time, the most interesting contest is going to take place on that one by-election seat, for which the party has fielded Lalan Prasad as its official candidate.
Election battle ready: Will NDA’s glory disintegrate?
The elections going to be held on these 10 seats (9 regular + 1 by-election) of Bihar Legislative Council are going to decide the political direction of the state. On one hand, with the help of Pawan Singh’s popularity, BJP has created panic in the opposition camp, while on the other hand, JDU’s grassroots candidates have completely sealed the caste and regional equations. The eyes of the entire country are fixed on this high-profile election contest. Only time will tell how much this political rebirth of Pawan Singh strengthens the NDA in power in Bihar and whether the Grand Alliance succeeds in breaking this siege. The suspense has deepened, and the game of check-mate has started in the political corridors of Patna.