Election Commission, Infiltration, and the Shaping of Political Discourse in Bihar

The political climate in Bihar is intensifying as the focus shifts towards the upcoming assembly elections. Political parties, including the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, are actively campaigning. However, the discourse and political battles are centered on a new set of issues, different from the past. Caste-based discussions are diminishing in importance. The opposition is now focusing on alleged election commission irregularities, the Special Electoral Roll Revision (SIR), and state development. The BJP, in response, is bringing up the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration. This includes criticisms of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. The focus on the Election Commission and the infiltration issue is a departure from previous elections in Bihar. It is worth noting that these same issues were previously raised by Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal when she was in opposition. This suggests that the agenda for the upcoming Bengal elections is already being shaped by the Bihar elections.