As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, the political landscape is marked by a shift in key issues. While the standard political debates between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan are present, the focus is on a new set of concerns. Traditional issues like caste are less prominent. The opposition is now highlighting alleged irregularities by the Election Commission, the Special Electoral Roll Revision (SIR), and the need for improved state development. In contrast, the BJP is countering these points by raising the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration, specifically targeting Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. Notably, these issues, including scrutiny of the Election Commission and the infiltration issue, were not as significant in previous Bihar elections. The fact that these themes are echoing those previously raised by Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, where elections are due next year, suggests a pre-emptive setting of the political agenda in Bihar. This suggests that issues that were relevant in West Bengal’s political battles are now being projected onto Bihar’s political stage.
