Nitish, Modi Underestimated Tejaswi’s Capacity In Bihar?

Ahead of the second phase of polling in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appears to be overcome by anxiety. Before the first phase of polling held on October 28, 2020, Nitish appeared to be happy while campaigning as the NDA leader and chief ministerial candidate. Later, tension mounted and it was evident in his demeanour. Pre-poll surveys revealed that NDA would get voted back to power again. However, after the first phase of polling was held, the scene seems to have reversed.

Initially, it was thought that the opposition party, Grand Alliance (Mahaghatbandhan) leader and chief ministerial candidate Tejaswi Yadav, who is also the Rashtriya Janata Dal president, was not a strong opponent but the first phase of polls revealed a different story.

The post poll survey results showed that of the 71 constituencies for which elections were held in the first phase, RJD would get a majority in 30 seats. It was also revealed that the NDA coalition will win only in 19 constituencies and this led to anxiety in Nitish.

In fact, Nitish could have found that the winds were blowing in favour of Tejaswi even before the polls and hence, began levelling allegations against him. After the first phase of polling, Nitish went full throttle against Tejaswi and other Congress leaders which only exhibited his worry.

The second phase of polling is scheduled on November 3, 2020. During his campaigning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too levelled allegations against Tejaswi.

There is buzz in the political circles that Tejaswi or the Congress leaders would not have been targeted if the NDA was confident of its victory. Further, Nitish and Modi have been frequently slamming Lalu too in their campaigns, even when there is no real need for it in the present situation because the former CM is still lodged in a Ranchi jail in connection with the fodder scam.

The diatribe against Tejaswi by both Nitish and Modi is revealing that they had underestimated his capacity. The second phase of polling will be held for 90 constituencies and it is to be seen what is in store for the political parties.