“Nine lessons from tsuNiMo in Bihar: Decoding a verdict that could reshape Bharat’s politics”, First Post, November 14, 2025
“The Bihar election results have delivered a decisive message — that the state has categorically chosen development over identity politics; that caste still matters but political credibility remains paramount; that welfare works in elections but doles aren’t the only deciding factor; and that the time has come for the Congress to look beyond the Gandhis if the party has to bounce back and the Opposition has to regain its strength. Beyond the numbers, the Bihar verdict offers nine clear lessons that should shape the strategies of political parties in the months and years ahead.
1. Credibility Matters
The most striking takeaway from the Bihar Assembly result is the reaffirmation of the fact that credibility matters the most in politics. Despite being in power in the state for nearly two decades, Nitish Kumar, in the company of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, generated a ‘tsuNiMo’ wave simply because the two exuded credibility and trust that the Opposition sorely lacked. The JD(U)’s revival underscores Bihar’s continued faith in Nitish Kumar’s leadership. Similarly, the development-welfare record of the Modi government has been too significant to ignore.
2. Organisation Can Make or Break Elections
Charisma may attract crowds, but organisation wins elections. The BJP-JD(U)’s performance owes as much to the NiMo factor as it does to the meticulous planning of Amit Shah, whose micro-management of candidate selection, conflict resolution, and caste-community balancing played a crucial role in the Bihar elections. His ability to contain party rebellions post ticket distribution and harmonise the machinery ensured a disciplined, united campaign — something the RJD-Congress opposition clearly failed to do. The BJP and JD(U) are natural allies; when they join hands, they create a large electoral catchment area in the riverine state of Bihar…….”
Read full article at firstpost.com
