(Image source from: Does Bihar bypoll indicate waning of Modi wave?})
Is the Modi wave fading out barely three months after assuming power at the centre? Thats what the trends suggest.
Counting of votes in ten Bihar assembly seats in the bypoll held on August 21 is on. And the trends available from the Election Commission (EC) at 10:30 am show the secular alliance comprising of RJD, JD(U) and Congress to be leading in 7 seats. While the BJP was leading in only 3 seats.
The trend showed that the RJD and JD(U) were leading in three seats each and the Congress was ahead in 1 seat.
EC statement said Lalu Prasad's RJD was leading at Rajnagar (SC), Chapra and Mohiuddinagar. While Nitish Kumar's JD(U) was ahead at Hajipur, Jale and Parbatta. While the Congress is leading at Bhagalpur. The BJP is leading in Narkatiaganj, Banka and Mohania (SC) seats.
During the 2010 Assembly election, the BJP had won 6 seats, the RJD 3 and JD(U) won 1 seat.
The regrouping of secular forces seem to have checked division of votes, which is a setback to the BJP. The saffron party had captured 31 out of 40 seats in Bihar in the recent Lok Sabha election by allying with LJP and RLSP.
The by-election is being dubbed as a semi-final leading to the assembly polls next year. The polls are an index for political parties to sense the mood of people. It also gives BJP's opponents an understanding whether the Modi wave is actually invulnerable as it appeared during the Lok Sabha polls.
The significance of the by-polls can be gauged by the fact that Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar made several trips to the 10 assembly constituencies. The polls are vital for the political survival of these regional parties.
If the regrouped 'Mandal forces' does not click, then Nitish Kumar's personal credibility will be at stake. Nitish's JD(U) had a comfortably alliance with BJP, which fell apart over Narendra Modi's nomination as prime ministerial candidate. So his personal credibility is at stakes with this alliance.
For Lalu Prasad, a defeat will be disastrous. The RJD, which is going through factionalism, may even cease to exist as a political force if it splinters. To add to the worries of RJD, its chied Lalu Prasad Yadav, has been hospitalised in Mumbai.
(AW: Pratima Tigga)
