If the NDA wins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will enter the Winter Session of Parliament on a confident note, having overcome a significant political challenge. This could give a fillip to clearing pending legislation and initiating slightly tough economic reforms that had been stalled because of political obstructionism. Bihar is one of the most politically significant states in India and provides the lead for a lot of political trends in the country.
If the Mahagathbandhan prevails, then the index of opposition unity will increase against the ruling BJP, and the treasury benches in Parliament can expect a tough time on clearing key reform related agenda like the Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST). It will also provide a fulcrum for opposition politics around the personality of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had been endorsed by both Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. That may not be very good news for the Congress.
A senior party spokesperson of the BJP made light of the tightrope walk that has been the keenly contested poll for the 243 member Bihar Assembly. “Whatever happens on November 8, Mr Narendra Modi will still be Prime Minister of the country,” he said.
A pithy comment, that cannot diminish the fact that a victory in Bihar is considered the jewel in that crown.