Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Double engine: On the Bihar Assembly election 2025 result

Double engine: On the Bihar Assembly election 2025 result

Welfare schemes implemented close to the polls in Bihar helped the NDA

The spectacular (शानदार) electoral victory of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar is one built on clever welfarism, astute (चालाक) social engineering, meticulous (सावधानीपूर्वक) propaganda and the sustained popularity of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the State. The Opposition Mahagatbandhan of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other outfits suffered from the adverse popular memory of their reign, which ended 20 years ago. The NDA nurtured women as a horizontal voting bloc, even brazenly (निर्लज्ज) starting a new cash dole scheme on the eve of the election. Its caste alliance covered a larger spectrum, compared to the Mahagatbandhan, which, despite its best efforts, could not overcome the perception of being a narrow platform for Yadavs and Muslims. Mr. Kumar, who entered the campaign as a fading patriarch (कुलपति), turned around his fortunes, reinforced his centrality in Bihar politics, and became the fulcrum of the NDA victory. The BJP is ahead of the Janata Dal (United) in terms of vote and seat shares, but its route to Bihar’s heart is still through Mr. Kumar. The NDA seems to have benefitted from a considerable increase in female voter turnout and from welfare schemes focused on women and Economically Backward Class (EBC) households through cash transfers and self-employment subsidies. Despite being in power since 2005, with only a short break, Mr. Kumar not only deflected anti-incumbency but also enhanced his standing. This worked in combination with the image of Mr. Modi, whose Hindutva-development claims have many takers in Bihar.

The Congress-RJD coalition (गठबंधन) failed to function as an organic platform, and its lack of cohesion and sense of purpose were all too evident. Its campaign was splintered, with its attention shifting between social justice and welfare slogans and a questioning of the integrity of the electoral process itself. India’s electoral process requires serious refurbishment (नवीनीकरण), but does not seem to have much traction as an election issue. Also missing among the opponents of the BJP is an appreciation of the hegemony (प्रभुत्व) of Hindutva in the Hindi belt. There are many questions regarding the impartiality of the electoral process, but the conclusion that the BJP and its allies are winning only because of a compromised process is a misplaced one. While the NDA could mitigate the pitfalls (A hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty) of anti-incumbency (A sentiment held by the electorate against elected officials who are currently in power, often leading to their defeat in the next election), the Mahagatbandhan ended up holding the can for the misdeeds (दुष्कर्म) and misgovernance of a previous generation of its leaders. That is a sobering (शांत, गंभीर) message for the Congress and all parties opposed to the BJP. They need to get their house in order, craft an inspiring message, and face up to the popularity of the BJP’s Hindutva politics while framing their opposition to it.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Spectacular (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – शानदार
English Meaning – Beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way; remarkably impressive.

2.Astute (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – चालाक
English Meaning – Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; shrewd.

3.Meticulous (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – सावधानीपूर्वक
English Meaning – Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

4.Brazen (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – निर्लज्ज
English Meaning – Bold and without shame; enduring or done shamelessly.

5.Patriarch (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – कुलपति
English Meaning – The male head of a family or tribe; a man who is the founder or oldest male member of a group.

6.Coalition (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – गठबंधन
English Meaning – A temporary alliance for combined action, especially of political parties forming a government.

7.Refurbishment (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – नवीनीकरण
English Meaning – The action of renovating and redecorating something, especially a building.

8.Misdeed (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – दुष्कर्म
English Meaning – A wicked or illegal act; a crime.

9.Sober (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – शांत, गंभीर
English Meaning – Affected by alcohol; serious, sensible, and solemn.

10.Hegemony (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – प्रभुत्व
English Meaning – Leadership or dominance, especially that exercised by one state or social group over others.

11.Anti-incumbency (Noun)

English Meaning – A sentiment held by the electorate against elected officials who are currently in power, often leading to their defeat in the next election.

12.Pitfall (Noun)

English Meaning – A hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.