Critics of the NDA are quick to seize upon the Bihar defeat as yet another vindication that the 'Modi Wave' is gone. This was their similar reaction when the BJP lost to AAP in Delhi.
Nothing can be further from the truth. If it comes to the people of the nation voting to elect somebody as their Prime Minister, Modi would still beat the majority of options out there by a comfortable majority.
But when it comes to state elections, the BJP cannot thrive on the charisma of a central leader to do the trick for them.
Lalu and Nitish are dyed-in-the-wool, Bihari locals whereas the BJP could not even announce their Chief Ministerial candidate prior to the polls. Ultimately, even if the people did vote for BJP, they did not know who they were voting for, in other words who their CM was going to be.
Now that Narendra Modi is safely ensconced at the Centre, the BJP should develop capable leaders at the State level too. People ultimately vote for local faces.
The BJP can’t expect to fly down Modi for elections in each and every state. By relying excessively on him and using him accordingly, they are losing an opportunity to develop some good second-rung leaders. But the results are in no way a referendum on Narendra Modi.
