When Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a public rally, predicted a historic victory for the NDA in Bihar and called upon people to prepare for celebrations, political pundits considered it merely a strategy to boost the morale of party workers.
Patna: The historic victory of the NDA in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 proved that it is possible to win elections by balancing the right electoral strategy, a development agenda, and social equations. The support of women also played a decisive role in this victory. The election results challenged the perceptions of political analysts and made it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brand and his charisma pose a significant challenge to the opposition.
Before the elections, Prime Minister Modi had predicted a big victory for the NDA in Bihar and called upon people in public rallies to prepare for celebrations. At that time, political experts considered it merely a way to boost the morale of party workers. However, the results proved him right. A few months prior, the shine of Brand Modi seemed to be diminishing in the Lok Sabha elections, but the spectacular successes in Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and now Bihar have shown that Modi's charisma is now more potent than ever.
Impact of Modi Magic
PM Modi's active participation and public rallies in the Bihar elections directly impacted voter turnout and the NDA's victory. Modi linked the opposition's missteps to the state's pride and public identity, transforming them into electoral issues. Whether it was the insult to the Prime Minister's mother from the Mahagathbandhan's platform or the issue of disrespecting Chhath Puja, Modi effectively raised these controversies among the public.
Throughout the election campaign, Modi repeatedly centered on the ‘Jungle Raj’ of the RJD's rule. Political analysts believed that this issue, being two and a half decades old, would no longer be effective in the elections. However, the Prime Minister brought it before the people in every public meeting, warning them about the dangers of the Mahagathbandhan coming to power. Modi drew public attention to threatening and insulting songs promoted by RJD supporters, forcing the opposition to fall behind.
Success in Bringing the Opposition to His Pitch
The opposition tried to raise issues against the NDA, such as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's health and the possibility of him not being made CM. Unemployment and migration were also on the opposition's electoral agenda. However, PM Modi linked issues like Chhath Puja and the insult to his mother with the state's pride, forcing the opposition to play on his terms. As a result, the opposition was pushed onto the back foot, benefiting the NDA.
Issues of Chhath Puja and personal insults particularly influenced women and educated voters. Female voters placed their trust in the NDA, which proved decisive in this election. The results showed that BJP and Prime Minister Modi understood women's sentiments and cultural sensibilities, converting them into electoral gains.
