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Bihar has made history. Sort of, that is. Shedding the heavy, asphyxiating yoke of caste-based politics it massively voted for progress in the recent assembly elections. Nitish Kumar, 59, the architect and icon of development in Bihar, became its chief minister for a second consecutive five-year term, as his party, the Janata Dal United (JDU) with the BJP swept the polls.
Historically Bihar state though ever so rich in resources has been economically poor. Even independence did not change its fortunes for it remained mired in caste-based politics; -high castes such as Brahmins, Bhumihars, Kshatriyas, Kayasthas versus Yadavs, Pasis and Dalits, besides corruption.
When Lalu Prasad Yadav emerged on the scene, his enchanting charisma swept the people off their feet. Here at last, they thought, was a man who had sprung from a humble background and a low caste who spoke their language and understood their problem. He would therefore be the messiah.
But Lalu squandered his popularity. He, and after him his wife Rabri Devi, ruled over Bihar for 15 years (1990-2005) as chief minister. But, beyond scandals of massive scams and corruption the couple gave little of progress. Lalu has been charged in a number of corruption cases, including the Fodder Scam in which about Rs. 950 crores were allegedly siphoned off from the animal husbandry department. And his caste-based political style pitted the low castes and against the high castes.
Enter Nitish Kumar. He led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to victory in the 2005 assembly polls to become the state’s 31st chief minister. An engineering graduate, teetotaler, non-smoker, who takes frugal meals, Kumar transformed Bihar from a poor, underdeveloped, sate to one that witnessed the “second highest” GDP growth in the country and “was recorded as the highest tax payer state in Eastern India” during his first five-years.
As the Chief Minister, he gained popularity by “building long-delayed bridges, re-laying roads that had ceased to exist, appointing over 100,000 school teachers, ensuring that doctors worked in primary health centers, and keeping crime in check.”
During his first term, Bihar developed an electronic version of the Right to Information Act. In addition, he launched the e-shakti program, “by which rural people can get employment information by telephone.” He is also credited with improving infrastructure, and reducing crime, the two most serious problems in the state.
Under his governance from 2005-2010 Bihar has had a record number of criminal prosecutions “through fast track courts as Kumar initiated a mandatory weekly meeting with all District Magistrates to monitor progress at the grass root level. Employment was generated in police services and teaching. In addition Bihar also recorded “record construction work during his five year mandate, surpassing the national average.”
Nitish Kumar government also initiated bicycle and meal programs, which saw Bihar getting huge number of girls starting going to schools and fall in school drop-out rates. Women and extremely backwards were given 50% reservation in electorals for the first time ever in India.
Health schemes were launched to improve village hospitals and the free medicine distribution system. Loan schemes for farmers were improved by involving national banks.
No wonder this time he led the NDA to an incredible victory, winning 206 out of 243 to become Bihar’s 32nd chief minister with a four-fifths majority. His JDU singly won 115 seats, while NDA (BJP) bagged anther 91. This is the biggest victory in an assembly election anywhere in the country in the recent times.
Congress, which gambled by going it alone with Rahul Gandhi as its spearhead in the campaign, was reduced to only four seats. Lalu Prasad’s RJD was reduced to 22 seats from 54 in 2005 and his alliance partner LJD led by Ram Vilas Paswan dropped to three from ten. Lalu’s wife who was the leader of the opposition was rejected by the voters in both constituencies that she contested. And RJD does not have even the 25 members required to regain the status of leader of the opposition this time.
Rahul had tried to win the hearts and minds of Muslim voters by wearing a Muslim cap on Eid, because, Bihar has a high Muslim composition. But obviously it did not work. Political pundits are puzzled by their voting pattern this time because BJP-NDA with which Kumar is allied is, prima facie, “anti-Muslim” But, perhaps, Muslims recalled that the worst massacre of Muslims in 1946 had occurred under a Congress government. And the Babri mosque was also demolished under a Congress government at the Centre.
On the other hand Kumar seems to have earned their trust through his secular policies. For example, he opposed the BJP’s demand to send Gujrat chief minister Narendra Modi to campaign in Bihar, because he is perceived as a “Muslim-baiter.” He also reached out to the disadvantaged sections among the Scheduled Caste by working on a package for Mahadalits and extremely backward castes.
In a bizarre turn of events BJP for the first time sponsored a Muslim candidate Saba Zaffar, who made it to the Bihar assembly. His triumph was interpreted by political analysts as an indication that the BJP was in a makeover mode from an anti-Muslim to a secular posture.
Commenting on the poll outcome Kumar was quoted saying, “We have no magic wand, but people’s trust. I will need to work harder than I did in the last five years and I will not hesitate to do it” and that, “The outcome of the elections also proves beyond doubt that it was a victory for development and for the people of the state. The poll verdict marks a ‘nayi kahani’ (new story) for Bihar, it will have its effect outside the state also.”
There is nothing that the parties now in tatters can do except lick their wounds and reminisce on where they went wrong. What was it that took Nitish Kumar to glory and why Lalu Prasad’s once powerful magic failed to mesmerize his audience this time? Of special interest should be an inquiry into what led the Muslim away from Lalu’s RJD which seemed to bank on Muslim support. 
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