Weak At The Top | Nitish Kumar Sets for the 4th Term as Bihar CM |

Nitish Kumar returns as Bihar CM much weakened, and at the mercy (दया/कृपा; kindness that makes you forgive someone) of a stronger BJP

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The NDA has won a slender (थोड़ा/महीन; small in amount or degree) victory in Bihar, with the BJP displacing (विस्थापित; to force something or someone out of its original place) the JD(U) as the bigger party within it. The HAM(S) and VIP, with four seats each, are both critical for the alliance (गठबंधन/संधि; a group of countries, political parties, or people who have agreed to work together because of shared interests or aims) to sustain (बनाये रखना; to cause or allow something to continue for a period of time) its margin of three seats in the 243 ­strong Assembly. 

Nitish Kumar is set for a fourth straight term as Chief Minister, this time at the mercy of the BJP. His initial success in Bihar politics came from his ability to aggregate disparate (अलग/भिन्न; different in every way) communities on a promise of enhanced social justice and good governance.

Diminished (कम, थोड़ा; reduced in size or importance) as he is, the fact that he survived is no mean feat (बड़ी उपलब्धि; to be a great achievement), considering the popular anger against him that was unmistakable throughout the campaign. He faced the electorate (मतदाताओं; all the people who are allowed to vote) with a battered (टूटा फूटा/क्षतिग्रस्त; damaged, especially by being used a lot) image, and a partner that made its own plan and a partner’s partner who queered the pitch (गड़बड़ करना; to spoil a chance or an opportunity for someone) for him. 

In the end, the victory of the NDA is considerably (अत्याधिक; large or much or of noticeable importance) an outcome of the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the State and the BJP’s election engineering. This victory flips the equation between Mr. Modi and Mr. Kumar.

This brings a new dynamic to the alliance, and consequently (फलस्वरूप; as a result) governance in Bihar. As the BJP waits for the opportune (सटीक/उपयुक्त; happening at a time which is likely to give success or which is convenient) time to occupy the top post, it will want to keep Mr. Kumar on a tight leash (पट्टा/रस्सी; a piece of rope, chain, etc. tied/control to someone/something). 

Therein (उसमें/इसमें; in or into a particular place, thing, etc.) lies the paradox (अंतर्विरोध/विरोधाभास; a situation that seems difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts) of this victory for Mr. Kumar. He was a trailblazer (मार्गदर्शक; a person who is the first to do something that other people do later) in Bihar 20 years ago when he dictated (हुक्म/आज्ञा देना; to give orders, or tell someone exactly what they must do) terms to the BJP, but has now been reduced to the status of a subordinate ally (अधीनस्थ सहयोगी; a person/colleague who has a lower position than you in an organization).

He may not easily reconcile (सही/ समाधान कर लेना; to find a way in which two situations that are opposed to each other can agree and exist together) to the new situation and is likely to formulate a strategy to deal with the BJP. Devoid (रहित; lacking or free from) of a strong governance agenda, the BJP campaign boasted (दावा; to speak too proudly about what you have done) about depriving (वंचित; something necessary or pleasant away from someone) Kashmir of its special status and the ongoing construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. 

The BJP’s surge (तेज़ी से चढ़ना/लहर; a sudden and great increase) in Bihar is clearly indicative of the continuing resonance (गूँज; the quality of being loud and clear) of its Hindutva agenda. It is also a demonstration of its election management, as it came on top even as one of its allies at the Centre, the LJP, successfully undermined (कमजोर कर देना; to make someone less confident or powerful) another, the JD(U).

As the BJP pursues (आगे बढना/लगे रहना; to try to achieve or continue to do something) its next plan to capture power in Bihar, the State will witness new social realignments. The Grand Alliance of the RJD, Congress and the Left parties put up a spirited (जोशीला; full of energy and enthusiasm) fight but they could not match the BJP in terms of resources and popularity.

The consolation (दिलासा/आश्वासन; something that gives comfort to someone who is sad or disappointed) for the RJD is that it is the single largest party even in defeat and its leader Tejashwi Yadav who began as an unsure leader emerged as an authoritative (आधिकारिक; showing the confidence of having special knowledge) one by the end of this election. 

But that is no guarantee of a path to power in Bihar. Mr. Yadav’s popularity still does not appear wide spectrum (संपूर्ण शृंखला; a range of different positions, opinions, etc. between two extreme points). The outcome will also force a renegotiation (पुनः बातचीत; to discuss an agreement again in order to change it) of the terms of engagement among anti­-BJP parties and the role of the Congress. Also noteworthy (उल्लेखनीय; deserving attention because of being important or interesting) is the performance of CPI­ML­L and other Left parties that boosted the alliance and the All India Majlis­-e-­Ittehadul Muslimeen that spoiled its plans.

That Prime Minister Modi can still win State elections is an indication that in terms of ideology (विचारधारा; a set of beliefs or principles on which a political system/party is based), organisation and leadership, a viable alternative to the BJP is still some distance away. 

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