Yogi Adityanath to Set BJP’s Hindutva Politics in Bihar.

Bihar Elections: BJP’s ‘Political’ Hindutva Agenda and the Role of Yogi Adityanath.

Upananda Brahmachari

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set the stage for the Bihar Assembly elections with a clear strategy focused on its Hindutva agenda. By fielding candidates on all 101 seats without a single Muslim candidate, the party is signaling its intent to contest the elections on the plank of Hindu nationalism. But the BJP’s Hindutva agenda appears to be driven solely by politics, without serving the core purposes of Hindu empowerment, such as granting equal rights to Hindus by amending Articles 25-30, banning cow slaughter, and preventing religious conversion.

BJP’s Strategy and the Hindutva Card

The BJP’s decision to field only Hindu candidates has sparked debate about the party’s strategy. By doing so, the party aims to consolidate the Hindu vote bank and create a stronghold in the state. This move is seen as a bid to strengthen the party’s Hindutva agenda and appeal to the conservative voter base.

The party’s allies, including the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP(RV)), and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), have also refrained from fielding Muslim candidates, indicating a possible understanding on the Hindutva plank.

A Matter of Statistics and Welfare Schemes

Bihar’s demographic landscape is a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the 2025 Assembly elections. According to the population statistics, Muslims constitute approximately 17.70% of the state’s population, while Yadavs make up around 14%. Traditionally, a significant portion of the Yadav vote bank has been aligned with the Grand Alliance, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has successfully attracted a portion of the Yadav community in recent years.

Even if the BJP fails to make significant inroads into the Yadav vote bank, it is confident of securing a strong victory in the elections due to its existing vote base. The party’s vote bank stands at approximately 67-68%, comprising various castes and communities. This includes upper castes like Brahmins, Rajputs, and Bhumihars, as well as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) like Koeris and Kurmis, and Dalit and Mahadalit castes.

The BJP’s strength lies in its alliances with prominent leaders from these castes, including Nitish Kumar, Upendra Kushwaha, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Chirag Paswan, who are currently in the BJP camp. The party anticipates that this segment could vote for it and secure a strong victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

The BJP’s confidence is also driven by the success of the Modi government’s welfare schemes, including the Jan Dhan Yojana, the farmers’ welfare scheme, and the Vishwakarma Yojana. These schemes have benefited a significant number of people from the castes that form the BJP’s vote bank, including approximately 18 castes that have been provided special loans for employment under the Vishwakarma Yojana.

The BJP believes that its alliances with key leaders and the benefits of its welfare schemes and development issues can leverage a significant advantage in the Bihar elections. With a strong organizational structure and a well-planned campaign strategy, the party is optimistic about securing a strong victory in the 2025 Assembly elections.

The Controversy on SIR and Infiltration: A Polarizing Factor

The Special Voter Revision (SIR) program launched by the Election Commission in Bihar has sparked controversy, with the opposition alleging that the poor and Muslims are being targeted. Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of orchestrating the removal of eligible voters, particularly from marginalized communities. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi counter-accused the opposition of attempting to protect the votes of “infiltrators,” claiming that they are usurping the rights of legitimate citizens in Bihar. Modi’s strong statement emphasized that he would not allow this to happen, further polarizing the debate.

This controversy has bolstered the BJP’s Hindutva agenda, with the party leveraging the issue to consolidate its voter base. The prime minister’s assertion that infiltrators are taking away the rights of the people of Bihar has resonated with sections of the electorate, potentially strengthening the BJP’s position in the upcoming elections. The opposition’s allegations of voter suppression have added fuel to the fire, making the issue of infiltration a critical talking point in the electoral discourse.

But this drum beating for SIR or deportation of infiltration proved ineffective, as in Bihar’s border district Kishanganj, only two ‘non-citizens’ were flagged, and both made it to the final SIR roll, according to a report published in The Indian Express. The report states that in Kishanganj, the only Bihar district to share a border with West Bengal and Nepal, just two objections were filed against electors during the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on the basis of suspected non-citizen status. An analysis of the objections published on the state Chief Electoral Officer’s website shows that the final electoral roll, published on September 30, indicates the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) rejected the objections, allowing both individuals—a male and a female elector from a single polling booth—to remain on the roll.

Prashant Kishor’s Impact on BJP’s Chances

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, potentially impacting the BJP’s chances of winning. His party’s strategy of fielding candidates who can corner 10,000 to 50,000 votes in each constituency could split votes away from both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, benefiting Jan Suraaj. This could hurt the BJP, particularly if it loses upper-caste voters and youth who are dissatisfied with the current political landscape.

The BJP’s internal surveys suggest that Prashant Kishor’s party may attract enough votes to impact the outcome of closely contested seats. If Jan Suraaj performs well, it could lead to a hung assembly or a closer contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. With predictions suggesting the BJP may win around 64 seats, the Prashant Kishor factor could be the decisive element in the election’s outcome, potentially denting the BJP’s chances of securing a strong victory.

Yogi Adityanath’s Role in the Elections

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been actively campaigning for the BJP in Bihar, addressing public rallies and strengthening the party’s pitch. His image as a prominent Hindu leader and his administrative ability to take strict action against crime are expected to bolster the BJP’s agenda.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to play a pivotal role in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections as a star campaigner for the BJP. He will likely leverage his successful governance model in Uttar Pradesh and hard Hindutva stance to galvanize voters in Bihar. Adityanath’s campaign will focus on highlighting the alleged mismanagement of the opposition, particularly the Congress and RJD, while showcasing Uttar Pradesh’s development and law and order achievements as a contrasting vision for Bihar’s future.

Adityanath’s rallies are expected to draw large crowds, potentially energizing the BJP’s voter base and swaying undecided voters who seek strong leadership and development-oriented governance. By emphasizing the cultural bond between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, drawing parallels with mythological figures, he aims to connect with voters on a deeper level. However, the opposition will likely face challenges in countering Adityanath’s polarizing rhetoric and the BJP’s narrative of development and stability.

BJP’s Electoral Prospects

The BJP’s strategy appears to be focused on leveraging its core vote bank, comprising upper castes, and appealing to the OBC and EBC communities through strategic candidate selection and policy initiatives.

The BJP’s emphasis on the Hindutva agenda, combined with its focus on development and governance, is likely to be a key factor in determining the outcome of the elections. With Yogi Adityanath’s active campaigning and the party’s organizational efforts, the BJP is aiming to secure a strong victory in the Bihar Assembly elections.

The BJP’s strategy for the Bihar Assembly elections is centered around its Hindutva agenda, with a focus on consolidating the Hindu vote bank and appealing to the OBC and EBC communities. The party’s allies have also aligned themselves with this strategy, and Yogi Adityanath’s active campaigning is expected to strengthen the party’s pitch. The outcome of the elections will depend on various factors, including the party’s ability to deliver on its promises and the opposition’s response to the BJP’s strategy.

In short

In short, the BJP will win the game if Prashant Kishor’s strategy to defeat them falters due to the public’s unwavering faith in Yogi Adityanath as a stalwart champion of Hindutva, untainted by the kind of empty rhetoric  (jumla politics) typically associated with Modi and Shah.