By Amlan Home Chowdhury
Patna: India’s first state to hold polls during the pendency of COVID-19 in October-November this year to elect the Legislative Assembly, has become hyper-active politically with the most newsy tag of Aam Admi Party (AAP) being attached to it.
Even as the wheel of political combinations and permutations currently rolling in full swing, the entry of AAP into the electoral arena with Oximeter has changed the scenario dramatically as it can play second fiddle to topple the apple carts of several parties including the BJP, Congress, JD (U), RJD and LJP.
The net result, we know, may be the hung assembly and again formation of the coalition government. But the fact remains that as AAP can wean away a section of minority voters like Christian, Muslim and Dalit-Harijan combine, it can certainly change or influence the very arithmetic of poll results.
Logically speaking, the standing of major political players of Bihar — BJP, Congress, JD (U), RJD and LJP – stands eroded since the last polls to elect the Lower House following their inaction in addressing the problems of the masses.
The Nitish Kumar Government’s total failure to help the migrant labours return back to Bihar from different states of India further slumped the political value of JD (U). Bihar also saw inaction of BJP, Congress, RJD and LJP in helping hapless migrants with stoic silence.
Naturally, the entry of AAP into the poll arena like a gladiator with oximeter really can act as a major political weapon gaining the support of dormant or floating voters who got fed up with their COVID-19 patients not getting any facility in the government hospitals.
Apparently not in a position to win the polls, but AAP can certainly create spoil electoral futures of BJP, Congress, JD (U), RJD and LJP who have no slogans to offer to the electorate.
Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister, preferred a self-style exile into his official residence far from the hustle-bustle of Patna’s COVID-19 pandemic for over three months. Just to complicate it further, he had said the migrants should stay where they are rather than come to Bihar lest the COVID-19 spread in the state.
By parting away with RJD and Congress and joining hands with BJP to stay in power, Nitish Kumar also incurred the wrath of minority voters like Christian, Muslim and Dalit-Harijan combine who considers it as an act of betrayal due to the fact that none of them likes or trusts the BJP.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Sharad Yadav is likely to soon return to JD (U) and Nitish Kumar himself spoken to him.
It is here where the problems of JD (U) might multiply as Sharad Yadav’s return would not be liked by the BJP or LJP. Sharad Yadav too is not known to be very favourably inclined towards Hindutwa factor and BJP. He is rather close to Laloo Yadav of RJD.
Naturally, even a layman can guess this particular move may be construed by BJP as a subtle move by Nitish Kumar to again forge an alliance with RJD and Congress to fight the coming polls.
Again it is also here where the AAP gladiators with oximeter in hand can play a second fiddle by dubbing that Nitish Kumar is in a habit of dumping any other party to save his ministry or befriend with any political outfit or politician for his own benefit.
The AAP is a very small player in the politics of Bihar. It never fought a Legislative Assembly polls and all its candidates defeated twice in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 contesting three seats of Kishanganj, Bhagalpur and Sitamarhi and contesting 39 seats in 2014.
But sudden activation of AAP with oximeter shows it aims to highlight the failures of the ruling NDA, Congress, RJD and LJP in helping the Biharis fight COVID-19. None of these parties fanned out their cadres with oximeter or help the people in Corona-time. But AAP is doing!
This certainly is a novel method to approach the electorate in Bihar. Similar poll strategy was never seen earlier in this state.
The workers of AAP, now having 10,000 active members and 125000 general members, have fanned out in all the 243 state Assembly constituencies with oximeters in hand and asking as also helping people to go to hospitals for check up if their oxygen count is lower than 95%.
At this Corona-time when none of the political parties or JD (U)-BJP led government is Bihar is helping the COVID-19 victims, this sudden poll-time move can certainly influence the electorate.
As AAP has declared it is going to fight all the Legislative Assembly seats this time, a sudden poll miracle may not be expected but it certainly can cause a slide in voting percentage of all the political parties none of which are in strong position in Bihar currently.
The political slogan of AAP for Bihar this time is “Hum Badlenge Bihar” (we will change Bihar). It yet remains to be seen if AAP really can do so but it will surely change the poll outcome in Bihar.
