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Bharatiya Janata Party

Defections and Alliances: The Shifting Landscape of Bihar's Politics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In Bihar's volatile political landscape, the assembly election campaign is in full swing, marked by defections, alliances of convenience, and a clear shift towards electoral winnability over ideological commitment. Party-hoppers are no longer seen as outcasts but as assets, with several leaders switching allegiances to secure party tickets. The trend is driven by pragmatic alliances, where ideology often takes a back seat to personal and regional considerations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of party-hoppers has increased significantly, with 9 candidates who secured victories in the previous state elections contesting under new affiliations.
  • Among these defectors, Sangeeta Kumari, a former RJD member, has joined the BJP and secured the Mohania ticket, while Bharat Bind, another former RJD member, is contesting from Bhabhua on a BJP ticket.
  • The JD(U) has awarded tickets to 4 former RJD MLAs who switched allegiances after the poll announcement, including Kedarnath Singh, Chhote Lal Rai, Vibha Devi, and Chetan Anand.
  • The Congress has also seen a surge in defections, with Siddharth Saurav contesting from Bikram on a BJP ticket, while former minister Murari Kumari Gautam has secured a seat with the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-R) from Chenari.
  • The RJD has reciprocated by extending tickets to leaders who defected from JD(U) and other parties, including Surajbhan Singh and Sanjiv Kumar.
  • Despite the surge in ticket allotments, there is no guaranteed electoral success, with several sitting legislators who switched loyalties failing to secure party tickets.
  • Smaller parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) are also drawing in turncoats, indicating a shift towards election-centric politics.

Statistics:

  • 9 candidates who secured victories in the previous state elections are contesting under new affiliations.
  • 7 MLAs from the RJD and the Congress have switched allegiance to support the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
  • 4 former RJD MLAs have been awarded tickets by the JD(U) after switching allegiances.
  • 3 Congress defectors have found comfortable positions within the NDA.

Sources:

  • "Bihar poll: Defections galore, pragmatism over ideology" by HT Content Services, published in Hindustan Times (no date provided)
  • Interviews with senior Congress leader Ashutosh Sharma and Patna-based political observer Priya Darshan (no dates provided)

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