Modi faced the why of everything

There were several issues in these elections. Everything got interpolated with the other with the generous help of media and some vigilante groups. Anything and everything happening in the country got tangled up with the BJP in general and Modi in particular, and the latter was asked to explain the why and what of these things.

The ordinary Assembly elections assumed the proportions of general elections, thanks largely due to the vagabond-intellect of some leaders who questioned the dietary considerations and choices of individuals, catapulting the same into poll issues

You will be glued to your TVs tomorrow morning to check the Bihar results. Though the exit polls gave us an outline of the end result, our interest in still intact to know who wins Bihar.

In times as these when heightened concerns dominate public discourse and when everything from onions to outer space seems to have been made up of political rubble, such an interest is justified.

Will the earth crumble if the BJP loses? Does a Nitish win bring together all the anti-BJP forces to change the course of the political history of the country? What would be the place of Modi in the BJP itself? How will he take on the combined might of such an opposition in the future and what could be the fate of the reform bills pending clearance in both the Houses of the Parliament?

These questions are dominant in the minds of the political classes and business houses in general because the two are inter-dependent. As for media, it is also dominated by the politics and sustains itself on it to a large extent and hence continues to raise the same queries.

Let us be a bit more patient and try to look at things dispassionately i.e., could we not look at more relevant issues? These are relevant to the people of Bihar at least, if not to the nation at large. Let us first agree that these are Bihar elections. Having said that let us ask whether a Nitish win mean that Bihar will change and the Biharis' life improves. After all, Nitish had managed to be in power for two terms, using and throwing one prop or the other. If Bihar has not changed much during this period, what makes us optimistic that it would do so now?

Are the girls of Bihar going to feel safe and secure? Will there be equal educational and job opportunities for them? Will the boys and girls be made partners in progress whatever their background might be? Above all, will the new government treat every Bihari on a par with the other and offer an inclusive developmental agenda for his growth and prosperity? Do the Biharis, all those Yadavs, Kurmis, Muslims, Dalits, Brahmins, Kayasths, Rajputs etc. develop a brotherhood and camaraderie hitherto unknown?

Soon after Nitish Kumar re-assumed the office of Chief Minister of Bihar on 22 February 2015, the Sharad Yadav-led JD(U), Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular), Indian National Lok Dal headed by Om Prakash Chautala, and Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) formed a grand alliance called the 'Janata Parivar' to take on NDA in the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections.

Could it be true that these fragmented sections came together for the larger good of Bihar or Biharis? The coming together of rivals only betrayed their inner fears of the BJP-led NDA juggernaut, which was gaining in mass along with its roll. That was till the Delhi elections. People in Delhi were waiting for a change both at the national level and locally. And they simply voted for the BJP, or precisely, for Modi, in the Parliament elections and turned to Aravind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Assembly elections.

Every one talked about Delhi example and it should have, in fact, ignited the anti-BJP fire in the bellies of the Janata Parivar leaders and made them remain bonded stronger. It was not to be, however. Things came to an all-time low in the Janata Parivar (does it now sound a distant thing of a distant past) the moment it came to seat-sharing. With the JD (U) and the RJD seeking a lion's share of 100 each in the 243-seats Assembly, the NCP rejected the plan and decided to contest the polls on its own and on all 243 seats. The Samajwadi Party led by the "head" of the Janata Parivar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, soon thought it fit to move out of the parivar citing the tilt towards the Congress as a hindrance, though the real reason was that it was given as many seats as it wanted to contest.

Thus the 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance) comprising the JDU, RJD, and Congress fell in place to take on the chivalrous BJP-led NDA combine. The BJP knows that it has never won Bihar in this avatar of its or in its earlier avatar of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

The NDA too had its share of turmoil in these elections as there were squabbles, complaints, public washing of their dirty linen etc. It had its share of anxious moments. A good number of leaders of various denominations threatened to walk out of the alliance if their wishes were not conceded. Politics above all, not people again.

There were several issues in these elections. Everything got interpolated with the other with the generous help of media and some vigilante groups. Anything and everything happening in the country got tangled up with the BJP in general and Modi in particular, and the latter was asked to explain the why and what of these things.

The ordinary Assembly elections assumed the proportions of general elections thanks largely due to the vagabond-intellect of some leaders who questioned the dietary considerations and choices of individuals, catapulting the same into poll issues. From crimes against humanity as in Dadri or Babri, to cricket, to arts, to choice of free expression, to regimentation of thought....every spice was thrown into the cauldron of Bihar to cook up a dish of their choice.

Sadly, earlier Ghar vapsi to the latest award vapsi, there is no sign of Indians polarising. The loose cannons in public life further divided the population on every possible line decimating what little goodwill remained. There was no proof of India being on a developmental trajectory. Rather it gave that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomachs that as a country we are disintegrating more.

Perhaps, this is the only country where we could witness such extremes in the midst of elections. During the last general elections, the campaign was centred more or less on corruption and development. Here, half way through we found, Nitish collecting 15 lakh hair and nail samples to be sent to PMO to check the DNA!

Have Nitish and Lalu brought together the Biharis in their battle against the 'Baharis' is another question. If they could really achieve it at least politically - this would be known once the results are out and the Mahagathbandhan wins - then it could be averred that these regional leaders have invented a successful theme of knitting varied interests together. Does it lead to a win-win inclusive formula of development?

What began as a low key campaign soon erupted into a whirlwind of identity campaign thanks largely due to two statements at least – one on the DNA by Modi himself and the other on reservations by Mohan Bhagwat. These two might have twisted the campaign out of the BJP's hands, to suit the interests of the leaders of the grand alliance to such an extent that, this coming Sunday, should the BJP loose, it could rue upon these two more than any.

Bihar results should make us ponder over whether we continue to remain fragmented or come together in the task of nation-building.