BOSCO CELESTINE
News Analysis
The outcome of the elections to the Bihar Assembly would be crucial to the main opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the national level.
The caste-ridden State of Bihar, therefore, becomes a test case for the party. If the people of the state returns the JD-U-BJP alliance back to power, then it would be a clear indication, that the split verdict of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad is a vindication of Lal Krishna Advani’s claim that the ‘belief is upheld by law’. Meaning, in other words, the bench has not condemned the demolition of the 15th-century masjid.
Mercifully, General Elections are far away, otherwise, the Sangh Parivar would have whipped up a nation-wide frenzy to get back to power at the Centre.
At the state-level, Mr Nitish Kumar who assiduously nursed and nurtured the muslim vote bank is in a fix. The anger of the muslims who feel betrayed by the verdict will hit Nitish Kumar more than anybody else for his continued flirtations with the BJP.
The outcome also abounds in various probabilities. If the Muslims ditch Nitish, then who would be their next choice.
It could be the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) or the Indian National Congress. According to reports, upper castes are slowly drifting towards to them and with Muslims, in the post-verdict scenario also leaning towards them, the Congress Party hopes to regain power at the State after being in wilderness for decades. The Congress sees a window of opportunity being opened for them.
The RJD, on the other hand, sees the verdict as a blessing in disguise. Lalu Prasad Yadav, will go hammer and tongs at his sworn adversary as being more loyal than the King to the BJP. It hopes, at least, to emerge as a single largest party with support from backward Castes and Muslims.