New Delhi: Dubbed the “sorrow of Bihar” for its devastating annual floods that wreck crops and lives, the Kosi river surprisingly serves as a political lifeline for the ruling NDA alliance, particularly JD(U) and BJP, in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Spanning 12 constituencies across eight districts — from Supaul and Madhubani to Bhagalpur and Katihar— this flood-battered belt could prove pivotal for Nitish Kumar’s coalition.
In the 2020 polls, NDA swept 11 of these seats, with JD(U) clinching six, underscoring its stronghold. The region’s Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs)— a diverse group of over 112 castes like Teli, Mallah, Kanu, and Dhanuk, forming the dominant voter base — have been key to this success.
Since 2006, Nitish has expanded EBC reservations to 20% in local bodies, weaving a web of grassroots empowerment that resonates deeply.
Historically, the belt flipped fortunes: In 2015, the JD(U)-RJD alliance grabbed all 12 seats, but post-2017 realignment with BJP, NDA reclaimed dominance, winning 11 in 2020 too. Floods, blamed on Nepal’s water releases, are spun as a diplomatic issue beyond state control, shielding the government from blame.
JD(U) leaders highlight Nitish’s proactive role — annual aerial surveys, camp visits, and prioritising calamity-hit budgets. “People see Nitish as their saviour, unlike past regimes that left them to fend off floods alone,” quipped a party spokesperson. Welfare schemes targeting EBCs and Mahadalits further solidify this bond.
As the Opposition eyes a comeback, Kosi’s loyalty could deliver the NDA a crucial edge, turning tragedy into triumph on Bihar’s electoral chessboard.