Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the opposition RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, calling it an “unnatural merger” driven by a “lust for power.” Addressing rallies in Muzaffarpur and Chhapra, he likened the two parties to “oil and water — in the same glass, but can never truly mix,” claiming their workers were already clashing on the ground, exposing the fragility of the tie-up.
Taking aim at opposition leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, Modi branded them “royal scions out on bail,” asking voters if they would again permit “these families to plunder Bihar.” Reviving the BJP’s old “jungle raj” charge, Modi said the opposition’s campaign language — filled with references to knives and guns — reflected its violent past. In contrast, he cited Bihar’s growing aspirations, saying today’s youth “buy bikes, not weapons.”
Political attacks, while dramatic, may not be decisive. Their impact on voter behaviour is complex and context-driven. “Bihar’s electorate has seen many cycles of alliances and betrayals, making it less swayed by rhetoric alone. Modi’s invocation of “jungle raj” seeks to rekindle memories of lawlessness and corruption — themes that still resonate with older voters — but the younger generation often prioritises development, education, and employment over political jibes,” analysts say.
Apparently, sustained negativity risks alienating undecided voters who want civility and solutions, not insults. In Bihar’s layered political landscape, where caste loyalties, governance records, and regional equations often outweigh speeches, verbal attacks can energise supporters but rarely convert the fence-sitters.
Negative politics can draw headlines, but history shows it often backfires when it crosses the line into arrogance or personal attack. In Indian politics, several elections have demonstrated this pattern. For example, the BJP’s 2004 “India Shining” campaign, built around mocking the Congress’s governance record, was seen as out of touch with rural distress, helping Congress return to power. In 2015, the BJP’s relentless attacks on Arvind Kejriwal as an “anarchist” turned him into a symbol of resistance against political bullying, resulting in AAP’s historic sweep in Delhi. Similarly, in Bihar’s 2020 polls, the RJD’s “double engine failure” jibe at the Modi-Nitish duo came across as disrespectful to Nitish Kumar, blunting Tejashwi Yadav’s otherwise strong development message.
