BJP Active Operation Shahabad: Prior to Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, the meeting between Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday is considered to be BJP’s biggest ‘master stroke’. This meeting in Shahabad and Magadh region, which has become the weakest link for NDA for the last two elections, seems to be able to unite Kushwaha and Rajput society once again in favor of alliance. In fact, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the scattering of these two communities caused great damage to the NDA. Now after this meeting, the expectations of ‘Operation Shahabad’ being run by the BJP have increased.
NDA’s weakest fort: Shahabad-Magadh
The Shahabad region of Bihar, including Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas and Kaimur districts, has proved to be the most disappointing for the NDA in the Magadh region, some seats in the Magadha region, the last two elections -2020 assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha.
Defeat of 2020 assembly elections
In the 2020 assembly elections, the Shahabad region which was always a strong fort of NDA, there was the worst performance there:
Shahabad Region (Total 22 seats): The NDA had won only 2 seats here, and both seats went to BJP’s account. JDU and other constituents could not even open an account here.
The NDA performed zero in Buxar, Kaimur and Rohtas districts.
Magadh Region: If the NDA’s performance was worse, if the NDA’s performance was worse, the NDA account was not open in these districts.
Created in 2024 Lok Sabha elections
The 2020 poor performance continued in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well, but this time the biggest reason behind the defeat was the biggest reason among the Rajput and Kushwaha voters.
Big defeat: Important seats like Ara (Union Ministers RK Singh Hare), Buxar, Sasaram and Karakat came out of NDA’s hands.
Karakat’s shock: NDA candidate Upendra Kushwaha went third due to Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh contesting as an independent election on Karakat Lok Sabha seat. This ‘rebellion’ of Pawan Singh caused a disintegration of Rajput and Kushwaha votes, which directly benefited the Grand Alliance.
Success of Kushwaha equation: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad adopted a new strategy in 2024 by fielding seven Kushwaha candidates. This attempt to create a ‘Myk’ equation by adding K (Kushwaha) to the My (Muslim-Yadav) equation was successful and Kushwaha voted voters from NDA.
BJP’s ‘Operation Shahabad’ and Rituraj Sinha’s surgical strike
After being completely eliminated in Shahabad region in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP immediately started work on ‘Operation Shahabad’. The goal was clear: to unite Kushwaha and Rajput votebank.
Respect of leaders: The BJP sent Upendra Kushwaha to the Rajya Sabha soon after losing the Lok Sabha elections. Ara’s strongman Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha was made MLC. Rajendra Singh, who fought Chirag Paswan’s party, was brought back to the party by rebelling from the party on the allegations of cow-kashi.
Regional Responsibility: On 25 September, the BJP divided Bihar into five areas and entrusted the important responsibility of Magadh and Shahabad to Rituraj Sinha.
Sinha succeeded in bringing Pawan Singh and Upendra Kushwaha together within just five days. Pawan Singh and Kushwaha coming together can unite Rajput and Kushwaha votes once again in Magadha and Shahabad region, which can benefit NDA in 2025 assembly elections. This step reflects the strong will of the BJP’s lost ‘forts’ back.