As the Mahagathbandhan declared RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its Chief Minister face and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani as his presumptive deputy, some of the Urdu dailies interpreted the development as a possible game changer in the Bihar Assembly polls. Covering the keen electoral battle, the dailies sensed some stirrings of change on the ground, which they claimed got a fillip by the elevation of Tejashwi and Sahani as it may consolidate their support base among the backwards, marginalised and minority sections. However, the consensus is that nine-time CM Nitish Kumar very much remains in the game.
Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching his campaign for the Bihar elections by holding rallies in Samastipur and Begusarai, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its October 25 editorial, says the PM did a balancing act on the issue of the ruling NDA’s CM candidate. “While maintaining that the NDA will win the Bihar elections under the leadership of the incumbent CM Nitish Kumar, Modi, in his speeches, did not declare him as its CM candidate,” it notes. In contrast, putting all speculations to rest, the Mahagathbandhan named Tejashwi Yadav as its CM face and Mukesh Sahani as its Deputy CM candidate.
The daily points out that while Modi praised Nitish’s work, he did not go beyond reiterating that the NDA is contesting the polls under his leadership. “This has been said by all the NDA leaders from the outset. Modi also underlined an ‘NDA sarkar’ rather than a ‘Nitish sarkar’ in the event of the coalition’s return to power. He seemed to be indulging in jumla (just words),” it says. “At the Centre, the BJP has 240 Lok Sabha MPs, depending critically on its allies, the Nitish-led JD(U) and the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, for its survival. And yet, its government is essentially called ‘Modi sarkar’. Clearly, this formula is not being applied for Nitish now.”
The editorial states that the Opposition camp has accused the BJP of trying to apply for Nitish its Maharashtra model, where the polls were fought under CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde’s leadership with the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis as the Deputy CM. “However, after the poll results, as the BJP got more seats than the Sena, it effected a role reversal, naming Fadnavis as the CM and forcing Shinde to become his deputy. In Bihar, Nitish may meet the same fate as Shinde,” it says. Another parallel could be drawn with the case of Shivraj Sigh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh, who was replaced with Mohan Lal Yadav as the CM despite leading the BJP to a resounding win in the 2023 polls, the edit says. “It seems only jumla is also being used in the Nitish case to garner votes.”
ROZNAMA RASHTRIYA SAHARA
Highlighting Tejashwi’s statement that the Opposition alliance will announce one more Deputy CM face from a different group in the coming days, the Lucknow edition of Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, in its October 25 editorial, says it is imperative to ensure equitable share for Muslims in power structures in a crucial heartland state like Bihar in accordance with the community’s population and political salience. The editorial points out that Muslims make up 17-18% of Bihar’s population, who play a key role in determining the outcome of the polls in about 38 of the state’s 243 Assembly seats, which are mainly spread across the Seemanchal and Mithilanchal regions.
Referring to the 2015 Bihar polls when RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Nitish had fought together as part of the Mahagathbandhan, the daily states that even then no Muslim leader was named the Deputy CM although 24 MLAs from the community were elected. “While a few Muslim ministers were then inducted into the Nitish Cabinet, they had remained outside the decision-making process,” it says. In 2020, the tally of Muslim MLAs dipped to 19, but they still helped the RJD emerge as the single largest party.
The editorial notes that Muslim leaders have historically played a vital role in Bihar polity at various levels. “However, over the last several years, there has been a vacuum of Muslim representation in Bihar politics. Nitish has occasionally appointed Muslims in some positions, but they were mostly insignificant. If Tejashwi really wants to become a symbol of change, he must walk the talk and do justice in distribution of power,” it says, adding that Muslim candidates have remained “underrepresented” in the Opposition bloc’s ticket allocation for this election. It is now time for Tejashwi to display sagacity and practise inclusive politics, the edit says. “This is not only a question of political strategy but also social justice. If a capable Muslim leader is projected as a Deputy CM face, it would not only boost the Opposition’s prospects but also promote communal amity in these fraught times.”
SIASAT
Commenting on the Election Commission (EC)’s rollout of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, Siasat, in its October 28 leader, notes that the EC’s pan-India move has come in the wake of the Bihar SIR which had been plagued by controversies. The coming exercise, involving poll-bound states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala among others, will be carried out between November and February.
Referring to the fact that the Bihar SIR was challenged in the Supreme Court – with various quarters apprehending that it would snatch the voting rights of many people, especially those belonging to the suppressed and minority sections – the editorial points out that the apex court had to make repeated interventions to ensure that the exercise remains on track.
The top court had also directed the EC to accept the Aadhaar card as one of the documents for inclusion of electors, the edit says. “People must stay vigilant during the nationwide SIR exercise. All steps must be taken to ensure that no genuine voter is struck off the list. The point remains that voters’ list should be updated and cleansed of any errors or name duplication.”
The daily says the SIR is a complex process involving the EC machinery, political parties and voters. “Voters are its principal stakeholder. It is imperative that political parties reach out to them to spread awareness. The parties must leave no stone unturned to ensure the inclusion of genuine electors in the rolls. The option of moving courts for redressal of any voter grievances will also remain open,” it adds.