THOUGH the analysts and political thinkers will pour over the pages of different newspapers, magazines and will cross swords on panel discussions in different TV Channels, but the voters of Bihar have proved their political maturity by dumping the BJP and its allies and strengthening those forces who see the emergence of BJP as a big challenge to the idea of India which came into being after a century long battle against British imperialism and proclaiming itself as a sovereign secular-socialist republic.

In the background of the recent heightened communal atmosphere which consumed the life of Md Akhlaq and provided a free run to the saffron sadhwis and sants to create hatred and motivating the lumpen saffron elements to take the law into their hands by assaulting young couples, taking lives of people in the name of cow and even silencing the rational voices of Kalburgi, Pansare, Dabholker and others, Bihar victory is very significant.

As the people started confronting the RSS agenda and the writers, artists, film makers and members of civil society joined hands returning their awards, the ruling BJP leaders described it as manufactured protest to tarnish the image of India in the international arena.

Bihar assembly election became the test case for the BJP and its allies on the  one hand and the secular masses and common people on the other who were groaning under the ever soaring prices of essential commodities and the complete U turn of BJP on every promise it had made during the last parliamentary election.

BJP’s campaign under Prime Minister Modi was based on polarising the masses of Bihar on communal lines. His speech in Buxar where he charged Maha gathbandhan leaders that they are plotting to do away with the present provision of reservation for Backward Classes, SC and STs and give it to a particular community was nothing but downright communal propaganda. Not to be left behind his party chief, Amit Shah declared that if the BJP loses in Bihar, there will be fire work in Pakistan. Their other junior leaders like, Giriraj Singh and Ashwini Choubey were sending everybody to Pakistan who were critical of BJP’s communal propaganda.

The so called propaganda of development could not deceive the people of Bihar as they had the experience of 17 months of BJP rule at the centre which has nothing to offer to the suffering masses of Bihar.

In the heat and dust of election campaign, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s views regarding reservation gave fresh ammunition to the leaders of Maha gathbandhan and they pounced upon it and milked it to the hilt. Those who know about the social contradictions prevalent is Bihar are not amused to find that when the core high caste sections under the influence of BJP began to flex their muscles, the backwards, extremely backwards, dalits, along with the minorities came together to give a final blow to the vaunted ambitions of the BJP and its allies. Women voters by voting in big numbers also played a vital role in defeating BJP. Youth who, during the parliamentary election had completely sided with the BJP, were a disillusioned lot and so they also switched sides and made common cause with the common people of Bihar who have time and again showed their political intelligence which the intelligentsia in metros have failed to gauge.

Coming together of the Left parties in Bihar assembly elections has made its mark by sending three representatives to the assembly. It was the only block which carried out campaign with alternative people’s agenda. During the campaign it was found that people listened to the Left but their decision overwhelmingly went in favour of Maha gathbandhan which was pitted against the BJP on equal footing.

CPI(M) has done well in Bibhutipur, Ujiyarpur, Manjhi, Jhajha, Mohiuddin Nagar and have got more votes in different constituencies.

The Left parties will have to carry on this unity and further cement it by espousing  the cause of common people and will have to keenly watch the performance of the newly elected Maha gathbandhan as it assumes office.

Left Parties will particularly have to be alert as the wounded BJP will indulge in creating communal tension to polarise the masses on communal lines to stage a comeback.

But by giving a crushing blow to the BJP, the countdown for saffron brigade on the national plane has started, thanks to voters of Bihar.