Bihar Election Issues Mirroring Bengal’s Political Landscape

The upcoming Bihar elections have become a focal point for major political parties. Discussions and rallies are underway, with the NDA and the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) engaging in political exchanges. The issues at the forefront of this election differ from previous ones. While caste dynamics are less emphasized, the opposition is focusing on alleged irregularities within the Election Commission, the Special Electoral Roll Revision (SIR) process, and the need for state development. The BJP, conversely, is countering these points by raising the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration and criticizing Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. The prominence of these topics, including scrutiny of the Election Commission, marks a departure from past Bihar elections. These issues are reminiscent of those previously raised by Mamata Banerjee and her party when they were in opposition in West Bengal, where elections are scheduled for next year. This suggests that the Bihar elections are setting the stage for the political agenda in Bengal.