Caste divide, political polarisation, third alternative: Why the Bihar election is wide open

Legislative assembly elections in India are often fought and won on local issues. The overall national narrative, such as the national security rhetoric of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can at best be an add-on to the prevailing regional issues.

Bihar is no exception to this, and its polarised political landscape with a sharp caste divide makes it even more difficult to sway the voter’s mood solely through issues like Operation Sindoor, India’s military operation against Pakistan, which was launched to avenge a terrorist attack.

Although the Bihar legislative election is due in October this year, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, as well as the Opposition parties, have already started positioning themselves for the polls.

The significance of the Bihar assembly election can be gauged from the fact that both Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have visited the state several times recently.

Modi’s choice of a public rally in Madhubani district in Bihar to announce his resolve to avenge the recent barbaric terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir carried symbolic significance.

A recent poll survey conducted by C-Voter, however, suggests that Operation Sindoor is likely to have only a marginal impact on the mood of the electorate. Nonetheless, factors such as Modi’s strong leadership and his stance on Pakistan will certainly play a role during the...

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