As Bihar enters last two laps, Modi a big factor, Nitish can’t be ruled out, Tejashwi is climbing

As 24 of Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha constituencies complete polling on Monday, five factors are playing out in the key battleground state, that is the key to the fortunes of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc.

These factors are common across a dozen constituencies, from Purnia and Araria in Seemanchal to Jamui and Bhagalpur in south Bihar to Saran, Siwan, and Samastipur in north Bihar, where The Indian Express travelled.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one uniform factor across the state, but still not what it was in the previous two parliamentary elections. Dozens of voters in constituencies across Bihar said Modi was still the best choice to run the country but added that his poll messaging now seems predictable and repetitive.

Sanjay Singh, who runs a provision store in Darounda, Siwan, said, “There are many local factors at play, rather than any one factor. After all, roti is always more important than Ram. ‘Bhukhe bhajan na hoi Gopala (you cannot worship god with an empty stomach)’. Let there be more employment opportunities in our backyard.”

Fruit shop owner Bhawan Jha in Rosera, Samastipur said, “Modi gave Hindus a sense of great assertion. I could not have been able to sport a tika during Lalu Prasad’s days … Modi also brought a lot of development. Even a small town like Rosera has too many autorickshaws that cause more traffic jams than any rally can. This also shows that we are progressing.”

Farmer Santosh Kumar in Samastipur’s Hawpur village had a differnt take. ”Modi is not a factor for us. We need an MP whom we can approach for help. It is easy for PM Modi to say that he is contesting from every seat. It is rather undemocratic to say so. We would like an MP who can take care of