Summary:
In 2019, a blockbuster of an electoral battle is in the offing between two bigger coalitions compared to the last two battles. During the 2009 election, Nitish was with BJP stalwarts like L K Advani, while PM Modi was not even on the BJP’s horizon. Nitish joined the NDA again in July 2017, while Kushwaha walked out of it in December last year.The last two elections have thrown up familiar results. In 2009, Nitish’s nominee and NDA candidate Bhudeo trounced Lalu’s man and former minister Shyam Rajak. Other Grand Alliance partners, HAM(S) led by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and VIP of Mukesh Sahni, have the potential to rally round the dalit and extremely backward caste (EBC) votes, respectively..