Bihar Elections 2023: How INDIA Bloc's Internal Conflicts Benefit the NDA's Electoral Prospects

Will the INDIA bloc manage to extricate itself from its self-created confusion?

Patna:

The Bihar assembly elections have transformed the INDIA bloc from a promising united opposition front into a chaotic display of disorganization and internal conflict.

As the first phase of voting approaches, instead of presenting a cohesive challenge to the ruling NDA, the alliance finds itself embroiled in "friendly fights" that undermine its foundational purpose. The only clear beneficiary of this political disarray is the NDA, watching as their opposition self-destructs.

Approximately 10 critical "friendly contests" between Mahagathbandhan candidates are leading to what can only be described as political suicide for the INDIA bloc.

This creates a curious contradiction: while leaders from the RJD, Congress, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) characterize their internal competitions as "friendly," they are effectively sabotaging their collective strength. Across 10 contested constituencies, what should represent alliance solidarity has devolved into internal power struggles. In locations like Vaishali, Tarapur, and Kutumba, RJD candidates compete against their supposed Congress and VIP allies, much to the NDA's evident delight.

In Bachwara, considered a classic "marginal seat" where the 2020 victory margin was merely 484 votes (with CPI's Abdesh Singh narrowly losing to BJP's Surendra Mehta), Congress has nominated Shiv Prakash Garib Das, who previously finished a distant third as an independent candidate. With so many internal conflicts, can the Mahagathbandhan realistically expect electoral success?

Mahagathbandhan: From Powerful Alliance To Fragmented Coalition

The situation is further complicated by delays and confusion in candidate announcements. While Congress has released its list of 48 candidates, other alliance partners have struggled with their preparations. This lack of coordination reveals the alliance's fragility, despite its initial appearance as formidable opposition.

RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders have engaged in seemingly endless negotiations, yet clear outcomes remain elusive. The absence of a definitive seat-sharing arrangement clearly demonstrates their disorganization.

VIP chief Mukesh Sahani added to the confusion by announcing his withdrawal from electoral contests just as arrangements were being finalized, declaring instead that he would support his party's candidates. The uncomfortable reality is that Sahani has never won an election throughout his political career, even when contesting from constituencies dominated by Mallah-Sahani-Nishad communities.

While leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav have conducted grassroots campaigns across Bihar during the 16-day Voter Adhikar Rally and five-day Bihar Adhikar Rally, Sahani limits himself to helicopter appearances and press conferences in luxury hotels.

As Prashant Kishor traverses Bihar on foot to establish voter connections, leaders like Sahani focus on political negotiations without engaging in ground-level campaigning.

Sahani had previously threatened to exit the Mahagathbandhan alliance when the RJD leadership refused his excessive demands. CPI-ML's Deepankar Bhattacharya had to request Rahul Gandhi's late-night intervention to placate Sahani.

INDIA Bloc's Absence Of Strategic Vision And Unity

Sahani's last-minute accommodation following his dramatic protests highlights a fundamental instability within the Mahagathbandhan alliance. His announcement exemplifies the broader problem afflicting the INDIA bloc – a lack of strategic direction. Sahani's ambition to become Deputy Chief Minister without even contesting an election illustrates the competing personal agendas contributing to the alliance's chaos.

The irony is profound; what was intended as collaborative political effort has deteriorated into a series of self-destructive actions. The ruling NDA, with its coherent messaging and clear strategy, has become the unintended beneficiary of the INDIA bloc's missteps. Each time an RJD candidate competes against a Congress or VIP counterpart, the NDA's electoral prospects in those constituencies improve. The NDA effectively portrays a divided opposition, and the INDIA bloc's claims of unity appear hollow against their visible internal conflicts.

Initial Positive Momentum Completely Reversed

Before the official campaign announcement, the Mahagathbandhan enjoyed momentum generated by Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, Mukesh Sahani, and Deepankar Bhattacharya's 16-day Voter Adhikar Rally, followed by Tejashwi Yadav's five-day Bihar Adhikar rally.

Today, the INDIA bloc's initial optimism has transformed into apparent despair. Even the presence of Congress star campaigners like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra cannot conceal the fundamental divisions. Their efforts, while noteworthy, are overshadowed by organizational chaos. Candidates rushing to file last-minute nominations only intensify the atmosphere of urgency and confusion surrounding this electoral contest.

INDIA Bloc In Bihar Reveals Political Contradictions

What began as a coalition capable of challenging the NDA has instead become a study in contradictions – each development revealing the disorder and conflict beneath the surface. Rather than demonstrating solidarity, the "friendly fights" highlight the disunity threatening their political aspirations.

In politics, where clarity and conviction are essential, the INDIA bloc's internal confusion serves as a warning. As election day approaches, the question remains: can this alliance overcome its discord and present a unified front? Or will the NDA capitalize on this opportunity to strengthen its position while the INDIA bloc remains trapped in its self-created confusion?

The answer may not lie in election results alone, but in the lessons derived from this chaotic prelude.

The internal conflicts within the INDIA bloc may ultimately benefit the NDA's electoral prospects.