Bihar: Change and awakening

The plot of this year’s most talked about film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has far too many similarities with the state of Bihar. Bihar like Slumdog Millionaire’s chief protagonist Jamal Malik had a pitiable past, both faced too many hurdles to succeed, and both emerged triumphant against all odds. Similarly, the change witnessed by Bihar under the leadership of Nitish Kumar is no less dramatic than the film’s climax. Yet, there is a sense of underlying awakening of the common masses involved in this change.

With 40 seats at stake, Bihar is the hotbed of political commotion. Cracks in UPA and performance graph of the present state government is set to change the political discourse of the state in these polls.

All the major political parties of the state have their agendas and issues in place by now. The important among them are-

Criminalization

Criminalization is the biggest issue in Bihar. 15 years of (mis)-governance during Lalu Yadav’s regime, saw Bihar virtually turning into a banana republic. During this time the rise of ‘Bahubalis’ like Shahabuddin and Pappu Yadav became common. Crime was rampant and kidnapping virtually became an organized industry. The ‘Golus’ and ‘Kislays’ of the state were under serious threat. Businessmen started migrating as it became almost impossible to carry trade. The condition of the state was rightly dubbed as ‘Jungle Raj’.

Nitish Kumar assumed power in a state which was in a very bad shape and had not been successful in suppression of criminal elements. Under him, Bihar became relatively much safer. ‘Bahubalis’ like Shahabuddin are now behind bars with the courts even barring them from contesting polls. Migration of businessmen has stopped and law and order is firmly in place again. The NDA is likely to reap benefits with these changes.

On the other hand, it will prove difficult for the Lalu-led RJD-LJP combine to defend themselves over this issue as clearly Nitish has an upper hand here.