Ayodhya verdict: Bihar polls to see 1st impact

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The first reaction of minorities to the Ayodhya verdict will be seen in the six—phase Bihar Assembly election to be held during October 21 to November 20. Although major political parties barring the BJP, are optimistic of getting their support in the electoral battle, insiders sense a change at the ground level following the judicial

pronouncement. The two national parties — the Congress and the BJP — are pleading for a negotiated settlement on the Ayodhya title suits following the Allahbad high court judgment. But a section of the minorities does not think that the land dispute is the real issue.
A judgment “legitimising” faith to decide such cases is the main issue which, they feel, could be decided in the highest court.
The Bihar Assembly election will be the test to know how the common man in the minorities will react to this issue in the light of the high court judgment.
The ruling Janata Dal (U)-BJP combine will ask for votes on the basis of their performance in the last five years, the Congress will try to discredit them and the RJD for the “misrule” in the last two decades. Moreover, it is fighting the election not to form a government but to increase its space in the state which was once was its stronghold .
But the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav would certainly play the Ayodhya card to embarrass the JD(U), BJP and the Congress. This is because minorities vote decide who would rule the state. He is fighting the election with the Lok Janashakti Party led by Ram Vilas Paswan.
While the Congress, JD(U) and the RJD is depending on the support of minorities, the BJP too does not want to hurt them after realising that they are core constituency of the ally JD(U). And this is perhaps the reason why the BJP is unwilling to involve the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and its Lok Sabha Member Varun Gandhi in the campaign.
The Congress is confident that Ayodhya will not be an issue in the Bihar poll campaigning. Its main target could be Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav rather than the JD(U)-BJP combine as party managers feel that the Congress can get space among the minorities only if the RJD goes down.