Voters in Bihar are facing a dilemma. They have been clear in their preference for Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) and most want to avoid Lalu Prasad and his RJD. For over 10 years Bihar has been clear on this, but 2015 is forcing them to choose Lalu’s candidates against those of NDA’s. It’s a Hobson’s choice for them, one that they would prefer not to take but may well end up taking. For on the other side is BJP, a party viewed by many as synonymous with the upper caste and communal forces, it’s a not really a choice.
Travelling through the dusty villages of Bihar, large parts of which have remained unchanged for decades, life is a fight of daily survival, broken only by the cacophony of campaigning when people from ‘outside’ come desperately seeking their votes. The only sliver of hope they have is to vote for someone from their caste and pray that something gets done to improve their lives. And that means their choice has mostly been in favour of JD(U), a confirmation of their preference for Nitish over Lalu.
But this year, JD(U) has vacated 100 constituencies in favour of RJD, and its people in those areas that are faced with this dilemma. For most, Lalu remains an entertainer but in administration they have their faith in Nitish. Yet, they also see the BJP at the centre and know that if they win in the state and if the people vote for RJD, they will once again lose out for another five years waiting for their Godot.
Not much has changed for the man on the street in the last five years, despite a lot of good work done by Nitish Kumar, but now he has to choose between voting for RJD, and by extension JD(U), or take the plunge with the BJP, with all their big promises. It’s not an easy choice but one they have to make, for it’s the only time when their voice will count, after that, it will be silence for another five years. Laluji, where have you placed us?
Voters in Bihar are facing a dilemma. They have been clear in their preference for Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) and most want to avoid Lalu Prasad and his RJD. For over 10 years Bihar has been clear on this, but 2015 is forcing them to choose Lalu’s candidates against those of NDA’s. It’s a Hobson’s choice for them, one that they would prefer not to take but may well end up taking. For on the other side is BJP, a party viewed by many as synonymous with the upper caste and communal forces, it’s a not really a choice.
Travelling through the dusty villages of Bihar, large parts of which have remained unchanged for decades, life is a fight of daily survival, broken only by the cacophony of campaigning when people from ‘outside’ come desperately seeking their votes. The only sliver of hope they have is to vote for someone from their caste and pray that something gets done to improve their lives. And that means their choice has mostly been in favour of JD(U), a confirmation of their preference for Nitish over Lalu.
But this year, JD(U) has vacated 100 constituencies in favour of RJD, and its people in those areas that are faced with this dilemma. For most, Lalu remains an entertainer but in administration they have their faith in Nitish. Yet, they also see the BJP at the centre and know that if they win in the state and if the people vote for RJD, they will once again lose out for another five years waiting for their Godot.
Not much has changed for the man on the street in the last five years, despite a lot of good work done by Nitish Kumar, but now he has to choose between voting for RJD, and by extension JD(U), or take the plunge with the BJP, with all their big promises. It’s not an easy choice but one they have to make, for it’s the only time when their voice will count, after that, it will be silence for another five years. Laluji, where have you placed us?
