NDA's strategic seat-sharing

Refer to ‘Tiraskar is the voter’s terse message’ (The Great Game); the NDA’s resounding victory in the Bihar Assembly election, securing a three-fourth majority, has reaffirmed PM Narendra Modi’s popularity and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s enduring appeal. The NDA’s landslide win can be attributed partly to strategic and meticulous seat-sharing among the partners. Another important factor was the strategic mobilisation of women, youth and Extremely Backward Classes. The NDA successfully cautioned voters about the danger of a return to jungle raj of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Krishan Kant Sood, Nangal

BJP’s political acumen

Refer to ‘Tiraskar is the voter’s terse message’; credibility is the new key to win elections. PM Modi’s chants of a double-engine sarkar aptly took the wind out of the Opposition’s sails. The INDIA bloc’s propaganda against the BJP and the Election Commission dented the credibility of the Congress. This re-established the NDA’s credibility in the Bihar election. The BJP’s success at the hustings in Haryana, Maharashtra and now Bihar lends credence to its political acumen.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Democracy’s best disciplinarian

The poll verdict in Bihar is all about contempt that punishes arrogance. Voters have acted with surgical precision, rejecting lethargy disguised as leadership. The Congress, once grand, now gasps under the weight of its own entitlement, while Tejashwi’s promises evaporated like monsoon mist. People are done being taken for granted. In Tarn Taran and Budgam too, the same echo resounds: perform or perish. The Indian voter has become democracy’s finest disciplinarian. Where complacency reigns, contempt follows. People wield the only weapon that matters —the vote — and they are learning to use it well.

Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali

People’s evolving expectations

The Bihar election results provide a revealing reflection of voter sentiment and the limits of traditional political playbooks. The MGB’s strategy, rooted in appeals to social justice and old narratives, failed to resonate with an increasingly aspirational voter who demands evidence of delivery and policy substance. The Opposition’s inability to present a coherent agenda for governance severely handicapped its prospect. The ruling coalition consolidated support through implementable schemes and showcased gains in administration. The Bihar verdict is not merely about one alliance’s victory but about the electorate’s evolving expectations from respective governments.

Harjinder Singh Thandi, Mohali

Cakewalk on the cards for NDA

The way the NDA has defeated the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, it could be a cakewalk for the BJP to win the 2026 Assembly elections in Opposition-ruled states like West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Bihar win reflects good management and strong organisation skills in ensuring mobilisation of the masses which translated into votes. The NDA ran a focused, message-driven campaign that highlighted development, welfare continuity and social stability. The NDA’s welfare schemes paid off in the form of strong returns. Congress sent a message that it has ambitions but weak leadership, winning just six seats marking another big consecutive defeat under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.

Ramesh Gupta, Narwana

Prashant Kishor fails in own state

A great and successful election strategist since 2013-14, Prashant Kishor, who was instrumental in elevating Narendra Modi to the prime minister’s post in 2014, was not able to put even one seat in the kitty of his own party. Many regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress, AAP, JDU and the DMK came to power in their respective states with his strategic poll advice. He used to charge hefty amounts from political parties for planning their elections strategies. But in the Bihar election, his strategies failed in his own case. A doctor cannot treat himself. The myth of his expertise has been busted.

Vinay Kumar Malhotra, Ambala Cantt