Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj K. Jha believes the 2024 General Elections have shattered the “teflon coating” of invincibility surrounding brand Modi and exposed the NDA as a coalition of contradictions.
In an interview, Jha acknowledged that the INDIA bloc, including RJD, fell short of their target of 20 seats in Bihar. However, he emphasized that they have expanded their vote share and attracted new communities.
“We are headed in the right direction and you will see the impact in the upcoming Assembly election in the State,” Jha said. He highlighted the unequal battle they faced, with limited resources compared to their opponents.
Jha praised Tejashwi Yadav’s “MY-BAAP” campaign, which aimed to broaden their appeal beyond their traditional vote bank. He believes the campaign was successful in attracting new communities, although the quantum of support could have been higher.
“Tejashwi Yadav is not going back from here. He is committed to this path,” Jha said. He emphasized that the party is committed to building a wider social coalition and has fielded Dalit candidates in general seats as part of this strategy.
Jha dismissed comparisons between RJD’s candidate selection and that of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, arguing that the communities in question have different strengths in the two states.
Looking ahead, Jha believes the NDA is a coalition of contradictions, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s majoritarian streak potentially clashing with the views of key supporting partners like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar.
“This will decide the future course of action, not only for us but even for the ones supporting him,” Jha said. He welcomed the BJP’s renewed emphasis on the NDA and the collective in politics, which he believes is better suited for Indian conditions.
