There are few constants in Indian politics, but one of them is the enduring pull of Narendra Modi on the campaign trail. In Bihar, where caste, coalition arithmetic and local loyalties have traditionally decided outcomes, this election proved once again that Modi’s personal charisma and relentless campaign energy can still bend the tide.
The numbers tell a story of their own. The BJP is leading in 90 of the 101 seats it contested, emerging as the single largest party in the state. The NDA as a whole, led by the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), is ahead in 200 of the 243 seats -- both tallies the second highest since Bihar’s bifurcation in 2000. In the 2010 Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP secured 91 seats, while its ally, the JD(U), emerged stronger with 115 seats.
In a state where no single leader has matched Nitish Kumar’s administrative credibility or Lalu Prasad Yadav’s social connect in the last two decades, Modi’s presence has once again altered the balance.
A relentless campaign built on personal connection
PM Modi held 14 rallies and made seven visits to Bihar during the campaign. From Begusarai to Bettiah, from Katihar to Arrah, he covered over 90 constituencies across the state. Each visit was carefully choreographed to coincide with regional voting phases, allowing him to address key pockets in successive rounds. His speeches combined local references, welfare schemes, and sharp attacks on the Opposition, all tied together with his signature mix of conviction and emotional appeal.
What makes Modi’s campaign strategy stand out is the scale and discipline. This was not a leader flying in for token appearances. In 2020, he addressed 12 rallies across four visits. This time, he went further, delivering at least two speeches per visit, targeting diverse regions and demographics. His campaign language blended national pride with local pride, invoking “Viksit Bihar” as part of his broader “Viksit Bharat” narrative.
The missing face and the borrowed momentum
Unlike states such as Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat, Bihar does not have a BJP face who can command both grassroots support and mass appeal. The party’s state leadership has remained relatively low profile, often overshadowed by its alliance partner Nitish Kumar. Yet this limitation turned into an opportunity. With Nitish’s own popularity plateauing and the RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav failing to expand his base beyond core supporters, the BJP went all-in on the ‘Modi factor’.
The campaign effectively became a referendum on Modi’s leadership, not just on governance but on credibility. In a state fatigued by coalition reshuffles and alliance betrayals, Modi’s image as a stable, no-nonsense leader offered reassurance. His messaging around welfare delivery, especially schemes such as Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, free rations, Ujjwala gas connections, and PM Awas Yojana, resonated in rural Bihar. Voters who have long depended on state subsidies and welfare found these programmes tangible proof of governance reaching them directly.
Beyond caste arithmetic
Bihar’s politics has historically revolved around caste coalitions: Yadavs and Muslims with the RJD, Kurmis and Koeris with JD(U), and upper castes with the BJP. This election, however, saw the BJP cutting across those lines in unexpected ways. Modi’s campaign successfully nationalised the contest, making it less about caste arithmetic and more about leadership choice. His speeches rarely invoked local rivalries. Instead, they framed the election as a choice between progress and paralysis, trust and corruption.
This message struck a chord, especially among first-time voters and women, two groups where the BJP has seen consistent growth. Women voters in particular appear to have rewarded the Modi government’s welfare measures and Nitish Kumar’s continued focus on prohibition, safety, and education schemes. Together, they provided the crucial margins that pushed NDA candidates over the line in dozens of constituencies.
A lesson in sustained mobilisation
Modi’s political strength has always been his ability to energise both the party organisation and the electorate. In Bihar, where the BJP lacks a towering regional figure, the Prime Minister’s presence provided both coherence and confidence. The rallies were not merely symbolic; they became focal points for local mobilisation and volunteer activation. His continued engagement also helped unify the NDA narrative at a time when Nitish Kumar’s frequent political switches had created uncertainty among the cadre.
The takeaway
The Bihar results reaffirm that Modi’s appeal remains unmatched, even in states where the BJP lacks a dominant local face. By blending welfare politics with strong leadership imagery, Modi turned what could have been a fragmented contest into a cohesive endorsement of his leadership.
For the NDA, the victory cements its position as Bihar’s most stable political formation. For the BJP, it proves once again that when Modi takes ownership of the campaign, even the most complex political terrain can tilt in its favour. In a state where alliances have often defined victories, this one belonged unmistakably to the Prime Minister’s relentless campaigning and the power of his personal brand.
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