Bihar, on Thursday, is voting in the first phase of its high-stakes Assembly polls. And the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is chasing a lofty goal, "160 paar", which is almost a two-thirds majority in the 243-seat Assembly. The 160-seat target brings to mind another ambitious BJP battle cry—"Ab ki baar, Char Sau Paar".
And, much like the BJP's 2024 "400 paar" dream that crashed at 293 Lok Sabha seats for the NDA, the Bihar target might prove elusive.
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"The situation is very good. We are in a comfortable position. We will win more than 160 seats in Bihar," BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah told India Today TV on November 4.
Regional churn, caste realignments, and the entry of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party have the possibility of turning what seems like a sweep into a setback.
On Thursday, pollin
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