“Supporters want them to come to power”: Pollster Pradeep Gupta calls BJP an alternative to JDU, RJD in Bihar – World News Network

Last updated: September 28, 2025 12:00 am

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New Delhi [India], September 28 (ANI): Chairman and Managing Director of Axis My India, Pradeep Gupta, on Sunday highlighted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as an alternative to the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar.
Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, pollster Pradeep Gupta said that BJP and NDA supporters want the party to gain a majority in the State single-handedly, even though they are contesting in an alliance with the JD(U).
In an interview with ANI, Gupta said, “BJP-NDA supporters want them to come to power at least once.”
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the BJP’s face to win the elections independently of the alliance.
Gupta recalled the party’s victory in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, despite former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as Congress’ face in the state.
“Everyone knows that the face (for the BJP) everywhere is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP won in Chhattisgarh even without a chief ministerial face, while the Congress already had a strong presence there… In Bihar, there are many factors, especially the castes and parties,” he said.
When asked about Tejashwi Yadav as an alternative to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, he placed the BJP ahead of the RJD amid ‘jungle raj’ allegations against the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led party.
He said, “Before Tejashwi, there is BJP in Bihar…Nitish Kumar has switched alliances in these 20 years, so the public looks at the BJP as an alternative. There are also Tejashwi or the new emerging Prashant Kishor as alternatives.”
Gupta added that the Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) equation has helped RJD to continue as a strong Opposition party in the State.
“In the last 20-30 years, Bihar has been the only State to undergo a caste census. Muslim-Yadav equation is almost 31-32 per cent… Thus, RJD has not lost its presence despite being in opposition for a long time… But they had a history with allegations of ‘jungle raj’ and extortion,” he said.
The ruling NDA led by JD(U)-BJP is set to contest against the RJD-Congress’ Mahagathbandhan in the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the date for the polling. (ANI)

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