Bihar Elections 2020: How Nitish Kumar-Led JD(U) Plans To Sweep Polls Without The Magic Touch Of Strategist Prashant Kishor?

From promising grants for girls to medical facilities in all panchayats, Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) seems to be prepared with its poll agenda for the upcoming electoral battle, which has been scheduled to take place in three phases starting from October 28 till November 7.

With a month left for the Bihar Assembly polls to begin, Chief Minister and the JD(U) president Nitish Kumar unveiled his winning 7-point agenda termed as 'Saath Nischay Part 2, the sequel of last election's agenda. In his address to the media, Nitish Kumar said that if voted back to power he will ensure the 7 the points promised in his plan to be executed which contribute to Bihar's development. Nitish Kumar-Led JD(U) Poll Plan From promising grants for girls to medical facilities in all panchayats, the ruling party seems to be prepared with its poll agenda for the upcoming electoral battle, which has been scheduled to take place in three phases starting from October 28 till November 7. In his detailed agenda, Nitish Kumar said that all agricultural land in the state will have access to irrigation, storm water drainage system in all cities and towns. All girls clearing higher secondary exams will get Rs 25,000 and on completing graduation, they will get Rs 50,000. Moreover, every district will have mega skill centers and a new department will be also be carved out to manage it as it is not possible to provide government jobs to everyone. His 7-point agenda also included promises over solar street lights, shelter homes, healthcare facilities in rural areas and flyovers and by-pass roads. ABP News on the basis of its opinion poll on Friday had reported that NDA under CM Nitish Kumar is projected to amass 45 per cent of the total vote share, and is likely to bag 141 to 161 seats of the 243 member strong assembly , making massive inroads in Congress’ and RJD’s bastions as well. The opinion poll conducted by ABP News and C Voter showed Nitish Kumar, Sushasan Babu of Bihar, to return for his fourth term in Bihar. However, the elections might not be a straight forward chase for the Kumar-led JD(U) against the RJD this time after the eviction of its poll stateliest and election magician Prashant Kishor. PK Effect Missing In JD(U)? Prashant Kishor and his India Political Action Committee team is well known across India for the magic it adds to the election campaign. The political consulting firm, which worked with Narendra Modi in 2014 and Nitish Kumar later, was instrumental in setting the strategy for the YSRC and creating the narrative by organising 35 campaigns, 17 on the ground and 18 online since May 2017. The 'PK' factor had its tremendous impact on the outcome of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh. It did wonders for the YSRC by meticulously helping it build the organisation right from the polling booth level. In fact, Kishor and his team last year teamed up with Mamata Banerjee to regain Trinamool Congress' lost ground in the state of West Bengal in Assembly elections which are expected to take place in 2021. Speaking of his terms with Nitish Kumar, there was time when Kishor was righly called the righthand of Bihar CM. Kishor had joined the Janata Dal-United in September 2018. He was also made the Vice President of the party. However, JDU had expelled him after being at logger heads with party boss Nitish Kumar over his stand against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In an official statement, the party had said, "these two were "acting against party's decisions as well as its functioning" which amounted to breach of discipline." The dramatic move has come after Kishor publicly hit out at his party boss Nitish Kumar, calling his stand on multiple issues a "fall" for him. The poll strategist also teared into Kumar who claimed that the former was inducted into the party at the direction of Union Minister Amit Shah. After since his eviction from the party, it seemed that he could play an important role in the 2020 election. But Prashant has kept lips tightened so far. It is yet to be seen if he will come into role play or maintain his silence, and if there will be any effect at all in the poll strategies of Nitish Kumar for the upcoming assembly elections.