Select Language:
Bihar votes in two rounds, on November 6 and 11. Election results are expected by November 14, according to election officials. The residents of Bihar, numbering around 130 million, are mostly concerned about financial issues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP is aiming to leverage economic promises to sway voters and secure a full majority. A victory here could energize the party’s prospects in other crucial states before next year’s elections.
Bihar, India’s third most populated state—comparable to Mexico—is a key battleground. It is the only primarily Hindi-speaking state in northern India where Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP has yet to govern solo.
For household helper Rajkumari Devi, supporting her family depends on her husband’s daily wages as a laborer in Muzaffarpur. On good days, he earns about 400 to 500 rupees (roughly five dollars).
“There’s no stability,” the 28-year-old said from her small home overlooking farmland. “Sometimes he doesn’t find work for days, and we have to stretch our limited funds. Unemployment is widespread here.”
According to India’s NITI Aayog, Bihar has the highest poverty rates nationally, with a GDP per capita of INR 52,379—just slightly better than countries like the Central African Republic.
However, the state has shown improvements over the past decade. Last year, data indicated that the share of people living in multi-dimensional poverty—lacking in health, education, or living standards—declined from over half in 2016 to about one-third in 2021.
In September, Modi announced plans for $8 billion in investments, including upgrades to railways and roads, new agricultural initiatives, and a new airport terminal. He also introduced an $844 million project to assist women entrepreneurs, providing 7.5 million women with INR 10,000 cash transfers.
The BJP, allied with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) as part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, faces stiff competition from the opposition. During a rally in Patna on Sunday, Modi urged voters to “support the NDA,” emphasizing the importance of their backing.
A BJP victory could strengthen its position in other states controlled by opposition parties, such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, according to analysts.
“This election will reveal if the BJP can form a government on its own,” said political expert Pushpendra, who uses only his first name. “A win could also boost their momentum in other regions.”
Voting is scheduled in two phases—November 6 and 11—with results anticipated on November 14.
The opposition alliance, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, presents a formidable challenge.
Supporter Mudassir, a 25-year-old student, expressed mixed feelings, saying, “It’s okay if he doesn’t win big this time. We’ll see what happens.” Meanwhile, former BJP strategist Prashant Kishor has launched a new party, Jan Suraaj (People’s Good Governance), to contest the election.
Supporters of Yadav’s campaign brought him garlands as he arrived in Darbhanga and pledged to create “a new Bihar” with promises of one government job per family.
Voters’ choices will likely depend on which party is perceived as most capable of improving their lives. Many, like 30-year-old Vikash Kumar, consider employment the top priority. Having left Bihar ten years ago seeking work elsewhere, Kumar still struggles to find steady income. “If industries could be established here, people wouldn’t go hungry,” he said. “They could earn, live comfortably, and feed their families.”
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
