Bihar Opposition To Follow Jharkhand's Example To Defeat BJP-Led NDA, CPI (ML) Mocks Nitish Kumar For Flipping Sides

The opposition in Bihar seeks to learn from the neighbouring Jharkhand to uproot the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming state assembly elections.

This was apparent in the CPI-ML (Liberation)'s Gandhi Maidan event on Sunday (2 March) where the opposition party initiated its election campaign with the 'Badlo Bihar' rally.

During this event, the party's general secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya, urged the public to overthrow the NDA government in Bihar and suggested it was the perfect time to replicate Jharkhand's electoral history in Bihar.

Speaking at the gathering in Patna, Dipankar revealed that a recent poll suggests nearly three-quarters of the population desire a change in the current administration, as it has been unsuccessful in fulfilling the promises made to them.

“Let BJP and NDA daydream and think that after Maharashtra and Delhi, they will now win elections in Bihar. BJP faced drubbings in neighbouring Jharkhand where JMM, Congress and CPI-ML (Liberation) got together. Similarly, Bihar will not stand behind,” he added.

He stated that Bihar would follow the same trajectory as Jharkhand, where the BJP was prevented from gaining power in the assembly elections and the JMM-Congress alliance retained power for the second term.

Dipankar also took a dig at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and NDA's lesser then 2019 performance in the 2024 election, sying, “We have won several seats in the Lok Sabha after JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar switched sides and joined hands with BJP to form a new government in Bihar last year.”

He stated that the present unity has caused a stir among NDA allies, as opposition members are prepared to respond appropriately to the current government in the forthcoming election.

He stated that the resolutions adopted at the rally encompassed the fulfillment of previous grand alliance government's promises. These included the provision of Rs 2 lakh assistance to 95 lakh impoverished families in the state, allotting 5 decimal land for their housing, ensuring drinking water, constructing pucca houses for everyone, safeguarding the Constitution, combating corruption, and addressing atrocities against Dalits, women, and students.

Dipankar supports Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav's call for the provision of 200-unit free electricity to the residents of Bihar, similar to the model in Jharkhand. Additionally, he advocates for monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to be given to impoverished women in Bihar. “If these facilities can be given to people in Jharkhand, then why not in Bihar?” he asked.

Notably, it is believed that the dole out scheme helped the ruling JMM in Jharkhand, while the same helped the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra elections. It is now believed that the opposition as well as the ruling parties, both will announce such a scheme for the October Bihar election.