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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
From Chirag Paswan to Prashant Kishor: Why smaller parties could be a game changer in Bihar
Smaller and minor political parties play a crucial role — often underappreciated — in competitive and volatile electoral democracies. These parties contribute to political pluralism, deepen representative democracy and mediate between region-specific interests and the national polity. Although they are more effective in proportional representation electoral systems, they are also important stakeholders in the first-past-the-post system (FPTP). Modest or marginal vote shares by smaller parties can influence the results by splitting votes, acting as spoilers, or becoming coalition partners. Much like in European politics, smaller parties shape electoral alliances, influence bargaining dynamics through negotiation and consensus-building. In doing this, democracies resemble what political scientist Arend Lijphart termed 'consociational' systems – power-sharing arrangements particularly suited to ethnically and socially divided societies. India is no exception. Its regional and minor parties have consistently reflected layered social, political and party cleavages in both state and national elections, especially since 1991. As Bihar inches towards the assembly election, the significant role of the smaller regional parties needs to be examined. One of the reasons the 2020 assembly elections in Bihar went down to the wire was the strong showing by smaller and state-specific parties. 11 seats were decided by under a thousand votes, and 26 seats by margins between 1 per cent and 2.5 per cent, including the victory of JD (U)'s Krishna Murari Sharan (Prem Mukhiya), who won the Hilsa assembly constituency just by 12 votes, the narrowest margin in Bihar's history for at least 14 elections. While the primary contest was between the NDA led by the BJP and JD(U), and the Mahagathbandhan led by RJD, Congress and the Left, several smaller parties such as Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (Upendra Kushwaha), the Jan Adhikar Party (Pappu Yadav), AIMIM contested in the constituencies where their caste or community have formidable influence. Despite their seat tallies being modest, they widened the contest and splintered traditional vote banks. Given the widely dispersed social cleavages as reflected in the Bihar Caste Survey, the 2025 elections are going to be intensely competitive and hyper-local. Among the smaller political outfits, the LJP (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan is fast emerging as a pivotal force, especially after its impressive performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As an aspirational Dalit leader, Chirag Paswan commands political influence among Paswan Dalit communities – they comprise 5.31 per cent of the state's population — in constituencies like Vaishali, Jamui, Khagaria, Samastipur, and Begusarai. His growing popularity with the slogan 'Bihar First, Bihari First' and his attempt to galvanise a broad social coalition could decisively boost NDA prospects. Also, the HAM (Secular) under Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Dalit grassroots leader, remains a significant political asset for the NDA despite its modest 0.87 per cent vote share in 2020. Its influence among Musahar Dalits, who comprise 3.08 per cent of the population, and other Extremely Backwards Castes (EBC) in Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, and Nawada means a handful of seats won by HAM(S) could prove decisive in close contests. Similarly, the VIP led by Nishad caste leader Mukesh Sahni continues to be a notable player. As a crucial constituent of the EBC bloc (36.1 per cent), the Mallaahs (2.61 per cent) represent an important political force in riverine constituencies across Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani. Sahni's narrative, centred on empowering Mallah Samaj (comprising Nishad, Kevat and related castes) and his realignment with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan, makes him significant. However, the most intriguing development is the emergence of celebrity political strategist Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraj Party (JSP). In the 2024 by-poll debut, it secured nearly 10 per cent of votes across four constituencies, with Jitendra Paswan polling 20 per cent in Imamganj constituency. Beyond the ambit of prevalent identity politics, and solely focusing on governance, JSP's statewide 'Bihar Badlav Yatra' seems to have amplified its grassroots reach. While it lacks the momentum and resources to upend Bihar's political order like AAP did in Delhi, rural disaffection and youth grievances against both alliances could shape its political future. On the other side, the AIMIM, regionally led by Akhtarul Iman, made an entry into Bihar politics in 2020 by winning five of the 20 seats it contested, mostly in the Muslim-majority Seemanchal region. With a 1.24 per cent vote share, AIMIM has built influence in Kishanganj, Araria, Purina, and Katihar, directly challenging RJD vis-a-vis Muslim voters. Despite the BJP's campaign against 'infiltrators', it might impact the Mahagathbandhan's base. Other smaller parties like the Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) headed by Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, an independent Yadav politician, retain a modest presence in districts like Purnia, Madhepura, Supaul, Araria and Parts of Katihar and Kishanganj. Similarly, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) under veteran leader Upendra Kushwaha continues to wield influence among Kushwaha/Koeri voters (4.27 per cent of the state's population) in Karakat, Buxar, Nalanda and Jehanabad, making him a major ally of NDA. In this hyper-local electoral scenario in Bihar, unless it swings like Maharashtra, a few thousand decisive votes in multi-cornered contests can turn minor players into a post-poll kingmaker. Though BJP, RJD and JD(U) remain formidable players in the game, collectively, these smaller parties, including the CP1(ML), CPI, and CPM, representing significant Dalit, OBC, EBC and minority blocs, will likely determine the composition of Bihar's consociational, coalition-driven government formation. Ashwani Kumar is a professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences and author of Community Warriors: State, Peasants, and Caste Armies in Bihar. Views are personal
India Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
PM meets Op Sindoor delegates who took India's stand against terrorism global
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met members of the seven multi-party delegations that recently travelled to over 30 countries to highlight India's strong stance against terrorism following Operation meeting took place at the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi. Delegation members, including MPs from across party lines, former parliamentarians and senior diplomats, shared their experiences of engaging with foreign leaders and representatives during their outreach. The seven multi-party delegations recently travelled to over 30 countries and spoke about India's anti-terror operation. advertisementThe delegations had been sent as part of India's diplomatic campaign to draw attention to the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent response. Each group visited key capitals around the world to underline India's resolve against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and reinforce the country's commitment to global peace. "The visit was aimed at projecting national unity and ensuring the global community hears one voice from India on terrorism," said a government official earlier. The outreach is part of a larger effort to counter Pakistan's attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue while downplaying cross-border 50 individuals were part of the outreach mission, including current and former MPs and ex-diplomats. Among the leaders who headed the delegations were BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, DMK's Kanimozhi, and NCP(SP)'s Supriya Sule. The presence of leaders from the opposition as well as the ruling alliance lent the initiative a bipartisan External Affairs Ministry had earlier appreciated the teams for representing India's stance effectively in international forums. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also held a separate interaction with the delegates last week, praising their role in building global awareness about the threat of terrorism emanating from delegation had a specific regional focus — from the US and Europe to the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Discussions ranged from counterterrorism cooperation to strategic partnerships, with the Indian teams also addressing concerns related to misinformation and government's decision to send inclusive delegations, featuring MPs like Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Manish Tewari (Congress), and Prem Chand Gupta (RJD), was widely seen as an attempt to present a unified front on an issue of national Prime Minister's interaction with the delegates capped off a significant phase of India's diplomatic offensive post-Operation Sindoor.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi meets Shashi Tharoor, other members of all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met with members of the all-party delegations who took part in the global outreach programme on Operation Sindoor. During the meeting at 7 Lok Kalayan Marg, the prime minister met with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha and others. Following Operation Sindoor, the Indian government announced a total of seven all-party delegations, led by members from the ruling NDA alliance and the opposition INDIA bloc. BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijyant Panda, Congress' Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, DMK's Kanimozhi, and NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule led the seven delegations to different parts of the world, to convey India's policy on zero tolerance for terrorism.
India Today
02-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
So difficult to be patriotic, asks Salman Khurshid; veiled dig at Congress?
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who is a part of one of the all-party delegations conveying the government's anti-terrorism message, said it was "distressing that people at home were calculating political allegiances". He questioned whether it was so difficult to "become patriotic" when such delegations were on a mission against terrorism."When on a mission against terrorism to carry India's message to the world, it's distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?" he remarks came days after he praised the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which drew the ire of his own party, the Congress. It also came as he's part of a delegation led by JD(U)'s MP Sanjay Kumar Jha to highlight India's stance against terrorism following Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JD(U) praises Nitish's efforts to uplift EBCs
Patna: The JD(U) on Sunday highlighted CM 's long-standing efforts to uplift the extremely backward classes (EBCs) during his two-decade tenure. Addressing a press conference at the party office, state president of the JD(U)'s EBC cell and former MP Chandeshwar Prasad Chandravanshi said, "The CM set up the extremely backward welfare department to prioritise the issues of this group in govt agendas. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " He added, "The formation of the Extremely Backward Commission, the initiative for reservation in the judiciary and reservation in panchayati raj institutions have provided this group with a share in power, thereby strengthening social justice at the grassroots level." Chandravanshi said the CM had consistently urged the central govt to recognise the EBC category at the national level so the group could benefit from welfare schemes across the country. He added that over Rs 786 crore in scholarship funds were directly transferred to the accounts of more than 50 lakh OBC and EBC students. "In 2023-24 alone, more than 3 lakh students benefited under the CM Atipicchda Varg Medhavi Yojana," he said. Convener of cells Navin Arya Chandravanshi and party spokesperson Arvind Nishad also addressed the mediapersons.
