Tying bamboo poles together, one of the men engaged to erect a canopy outside the JDU office in Patna, the night before counting day, said, “This set-up is not going anywhere. Even the people on the other side of the road (the RJD) know that.”
By the next afternoon, as it became clear that the NDA was heading for a sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly election, sweets were being distributed from under that very canopy.
Since morning on Friday, party workers began arriving at the JDU office campus, where they soon filled up the Karpuri Sabhaghar auditorium. While news vans lined up outside, people inside watched the results of the counting being screened on two large projectors.
As the sun climbed higher, so did the JDU’s seat tally, and with it, the enthusiasm of those gathered. Slogans of “Nitish Kumar zindabad” echoed. By noon, people were spilling into the open areas of the premises from the auditorium. Drums and firecrackers sounded across the campus, and boxes of sweets were pried open and passed around.
‘Victory for women’
One of the many women who had shown up at the party office, Sharda Devi, described the victory as not just Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s, but also of the women of Bihar. “He has won… and this one-sided victory is not just his, but a victory for the women of Bihar. He has supported women for so many years, so why would women stop supporting him? Tejashwi said he would give Rs 2,500 (to women) if he came to power, but Nitish ji already showed the way by giving Rs 10,000,” she said, referring to the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, under which 1.5 crore prospective women entrepreneurs receive Rs 10,000.
Behind her were two large posters featuring Nitish Kumar, highlighting two more of his recent welfare decisions that many believe helped him sweep the election. One green poster read: “125 unit free bijli se ghata jeb ka bojh, jagmag hua Bihar, sabke chehre pe oaj (125 units of free electricity reduces burden on pockets; Bihar sparkled and faces lit up).”
The other poster, this one orange in colour, read: “Har budhe, vidhwa aur divyang ko mila maan — pension badhkar 1,100, har chehre pe muskan (Every elderly, widow, and disabled person received dignity — pensions increased to Rs 1,100, bringing smiles to all).”
Another one of the party workers at the campus, Mohammad Farook, said, “Muslims trusted only Nitish ji before and still trust him today. You can see how peaceful it has been under his government for 20 years. He made boundaries for mosques everywhere. The RJD, meanwhile, treated Muslims as a vote bank; they didn’t even give a deputy CM post. Someone who has never won was made deputy CM candidate. Under Nitish’s rule, Muslims have gained a lot, and he has always stood with us.”
‘Two Diwalis’
The celebrations continued in the JDU office complex, with party workers and supporters smearing each other’s faces with colour.
Some people from the BJP office came over, carrying posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and flags of the saffron party, greeting JDU supporters with hugs.
“Bihar matlab Nitish Kumar (Bihar means Nitish Kumar),” a group of women shouted, followed by “NDA gathbandhan zindabad (Long live the NDA alliance),” as they lit firecrackers at the entrance of the office.
At the BJP office, just a few hundred metres down Beerchand Patel Path, celebrations mirrored those at the JDU complex, with firecrackers being burst in rapid succession at the entrance.
“This time, Bihar celebrated Diwali twice,” said a man watching the fireworks from outside.
Inside, a music system blared a song with the lyrics, “Jodiya Modiya Nitish Ji ke hit hoye (The Modi-Nitish duo is a hit).” Groups of JDU workers waving their party flags were also spotted celebrating with BJP supporters at the latter’s office, dancing together.
In another section, people danced to drumbeats, chanting “Jai Modi, abki baar Modi sarkar. 2025 fir se Nitish (Long live Modi; this time, a Modi government; 2025, Nitish again).”
One of the supporters at the BJP office, Mayank Kumar, said, “Nitish ji and Modi ji built Bihar over the last 20 years. The public isn’t foolish enough to give RJD another chance to loot and ruin Bihar.”
Another said the BJP was a party of workers, not dynasts. “NDA wins because of the hard work and unity of our workers. They (the Opposition) couldn’t even agree on seat-sharing. Instead of fighting together, they fought among themselves. How will they win?” said Rajesh Singh.
A different scene
Between the BJP office and the JDU office stood the RJD one, where the scenes were starkly different.
Inside the office, a projector streamed live results like in the JDU one, but far fewer chairs were occupied. Sombre faces reflected the party’s tally on the screen. Near the lantern statue, a large group of young supporters gathered, united in disbelief.
Some made allegations of “vote chori”. “Wherever Tejashwi ji went, the crowds were huge, so how did he get so few seats? The votes were definitely stolen,” said one of the youths, Sakib.
Another, Sourabh Rai, greeted the results with more acceptance. But he also had a warning. “…it is what it is. People will now understand why a strong Opposition is necessary. Just wait and see how the BJP behaves after forming the government. They took votes in Nitish ji’s name, but even he won’t be allowed to function,” Rai said.
Near the party offices, a vegetable seller followed his daily routine, unaffected by the emotions of either side. “Whoever wins or loses, what difference does it make to us? A poor man earned on the streets yesterday, he is doing the same today, and he will do the same tomorrow,” he said.