By Nishindra Kinjalk
PATNA: It’s less of an election, more of a chessboard in Bihar. Every move is calculated, every handshake suspect, and every alliance—fragile. What should have been a festival of democracy has turned instead into a showcase of nepotism, favouritism, ticket-for-cash deals, and open backstabbing.
The latest drama unfolded in Marhaura, where nomination papers of Bhojpuri film actor Seema Singh—popularly known as the “item queen”—were rejected due to “technical errors.” Her rejection came as a blow to Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). Paswan, however, dismissed it as a minor glitch. “The Election Commission in Delhi is looking into it,” he told reporters. “It will be rectified soon.”
Not everyone agrees. A senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) official quipped that “anything is possible” with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Gupta at the helm.”
Allies at Odds
With the nomination process for phase one complete, confusion reigns across both alliances. The INDIA bloc—already battling seat-sharing disputes—now faces allegations of sabotage within. Congress leaders privately accuse their own of running a “sleeper cell” for the rival camp.
The former Bihar Congress chief, insiders say, maneuvered to grab more seats for his loyalists than his successor, Rajesh Ram, who is contesting from Kutumba. But in a twist, RJD’s Suresh Paswan has filed his papers from the same seat.
A similar rebellion brews in Lalganj, where Congress had announced its candidate—only for RJD to parachute in Munna Shukla’s daughter at the last minute with its official symbol. Both parties now risk splitting votes, leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) smiling on the sidelines.
Tension in the Ranks
But even the NDA’s house is far from in order. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most trusted lieutenant, has been firefighting on multiple fronts—meeting disgruntled BJP legislators denied tickets and coaxing them not to rebel.
Then came a sensational twist: Jan Suraj candidate Akhilesh Kumar vanished en route to file his nomination. His family suspected a kidnapping—until a photo surfaced online showing him posing, of all places, with Amit Shah.
Shortly after, Shah was spotted at 1 Anne Marg, the official residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The meeting lasted barely 15 minutes but set off a political storm. Shah’s remark that the NDA’s chief ministerial face would be decided after results triggered unease among Nitish loyalists and sparked whispers of a “sleeper cell” within the Janata Dal (United).
Rivalries and Realignments
JDU stalwarts Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha, along with LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, tried to downplay Shah’s comments. Yet, former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi publicly demanded that the CM face be announced before voting, warning that voters “deserve to know who they are electing.”
At a rally in Chhapra, BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy praised both Modi and Nitish, declaring, “The people of Bihar trust only Nitish Kumar.” The crowd cheered, but the subtext was unmistakable—Nitish’s hold over Bihar’s political psyche remains unmatched, even if his allies hesitate to say it aloud.
Meanwhile, the rumor mill has gone into overdrive. Nitish, insiders claim, is considering skipping joint rallies with BJP’s star campaigners. Adding fuel to the fire, RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav is said to have reached out to Nitish with an offer of unconditional support.
If true, it could lead to one of the most unthinkable crossovers in Bihar’s modern politics—RJD workers quietly backing JDU candidates, and JDU cadres returning the favor.
As one veteran journalist in Patna put it, “In Bihar, nothing is impossible—only unpredictable.”
For now, one thing is certain: the fireworks have just begun.
