Weak Links

The present form of Bihar's grand alliance cannot counter the BJP

- SAGAR

"We are just waiting for the Congress," Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar, said at a rally in Purnea district, on 25 February. Kumar, who represents the Janata Dal (United), was speaking at the first formal congregation of a new grand alliance of seven political parties that have come together to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar during the 2024 general election. He did not clarify why they were waiting for the Congress. But, while the alliance will field only one candidate in each constituency, crucial details such as a seat-sharing agreement, a roadmap and a common minimum programme-remain undecided.

Organised by the JD(U), the rally was attended by representatives of all its alliance partners: the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Hindustan Awami Morcha, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). In their speeches, the representatives said that a united front was needed to stop the BJP from destroying the credibility of constitutional institutions, controlling the media, misusing investigative agencies, supporting oligarchs and causing unemployment, inflation and social disharmony. Barring the last three points, resolving these issues would appeal more to politicians than oppressed-caste voters, whose custodians most parties in the grand alliance claim to be. For instance, ordinary citizens do not have to worry about raids by central agencies as much as members of the Congress and the RJD. The speakers also did not counter the BJP's caste hegemony or its weaponisation of the Hindu identity-problems that could hold far more weight for voters.