Patna: The NDA secured a historic win in the Bihar Assembly elections, claiming 202 of the 243 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the state for the first time, winning 89 seats, while its ally JD(U) secured 85 seats. With a strike rate of 83%, the NDA’s decisive victory marks a significant political shift in Bihar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election campaign focused heavily on issues such as Jungle Raj, women, and the Chhath festival. Across 14 rallies held between October 24 and November 8, the PM mentioned “Jungle Raj” 189 times, “extortion” 80 times, and “Katta” 56 times. He spoke about women 587 times, highlighting first-time voters and elderly women, while references to Chhath totaled 132 across all rallies.
Key Highlights of PM Modi’s Campaign Strategy:
1. Jungle Raj and Extortion as Central Themes
The PM repeatedly highlighted the “Jungle Raj” narrative, mentioning it 18 times on the first day of campaigning and 42 times on the first phase of voting day. “Extortion” was cited 80 times across rallies, emphasizing law and order concerns.
2. Women Voters a Crucial Focus
Women voters played a decisive role in the elections, voting 9% more than men. Modi mentioned women 81 times on November 6, the day of the first phase of voting, underscoring their influence. His references included “sister” 271 times, “mother” 250 times, and “woman” 66 times.
3. Chhath Festival Emphasized
Chhath was invoked in 13 of 14 rallies, with an average of 10 mentions per rally. In Muzaffarpur, immediately after the festival, he mentioned Chhath 29 times. The PM used the festival as a strategic touchpoint, responding to opposition critiques and emphasizing cultural connection.
4. Employment and Youth References
Youth were mentioned 144 times, and employment 60 times across 14 rallies, but the PM referred to “jobs” only eight times. Despite widespread concern over unemployment, the campaign largely emphasized broader themes rather than concrete job promises.
5. Opposition and Leaders Mentioned Strategically
The PM mentioned RJD 318 times and Congress 314 times, reflecting focus on opposition critique. Nitish Kumar’s name came up 58 times, mostly in early rallies, with the highest mention in the first rally (10 times). Military operations such as Operation Sindoor and references to the army were sparingly mentioned, appearing only five and six times respectively, suggesting a strategic avoidance of sensitive topics.
On November 14, following the NDA’s victory, the PM energized supporters by waving a “Gamchha,” signaling a celebratory conclusion to the campaign.
Political analysts note that Modi’s messaging was tightly calibrated, emphasizing law and order, women’s issues, and cultural festivals while avoiding topics that could raise questions about the opposition or distract from core campaign narratives. The strategy, combined with strong local outreach, appears to have played a significant role in the NDA’s resounding success in Bihar.
