As the Bihar assembly elections loom, political discourse is increasingly dominated by the ‘Bihari versus Bahari’ narrative, championed by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. This strategy bears a strong resemblance to the ‘outsider’ rhetoric popularized by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, suggesting a potential convergence of regional political tactics.
Yadav is leveraging the ‘Bahari’ (outsider) theme to forge a strong connection with Bihar’s electorate, positioning himself as the guardian of local interests against external political influences. This approach serves to counter the BJP’s presence and narrative in the state, while also aiming to mitigate the impact of past governance criticisms associated with his party.
Mamata Banerjee has consistently deployed the ‘Bohiragata’ (outsider) narrative against national leaders, framing them as detached from West Bengal’s cultural and political realities. This strategy, while effective in consolidating her regional support base, has also drawn criticism for potentially overlooking her own party’s national representation. The core of this rhetoric is to protect state autonomy from what is perceived as external political interference.
The ‘outsider’ discourse is a potent tool for political mobilization, enabling leaders to shift the focus from policy and performance to identity and existential stakes. By appealing to regional pride and a sense of local identity, Yadav and Banerjee aim to create a distinct political space for themselves. The success of this strategy in Bihar will be closely watched, as it reflects a broader trend of regional parties employing ‘insider versus outsider’ narratives to gain electoral advantage against national contenders.