I've spent more than 24 hours in Patna now and I still do not think that Patna or Bihar has developed under Nitish Kumar. But who cares what I think? As a wiser, older journalist told me when I wanted to rush to the government department for facts and figures to probe this angle, elections are not about cold hard facts. Elections are about perceptions. And maybe, the perception that Nitish has done good is enough to win him an election.

I have spoken to several people today. Young and old across Patna city and I'm yet to find someone who hasn't been bowled over by Nitish magic. In a place which is defined by caste politics, Nitish has brought in the buzzword of development.

As someone explained to me, even though Bihar is yet to climb the ladder of development, it is a huge achievement to have people at least start talking about it. I don't know, but I have this weird feeling, this fear that may be the residents of Bihar so badly want to believe that there is change, that they are not beyond hope, they are hyping up the work done by Nitish Kumar.

Why do I say hype? Because I'm sorry, the new road I have seen in Patna does not look like the roads in Delhi (as one fan tried to insist). Forget Delhi, we have come to Bihar after another Bimaru state-Orissa, and Patna just looks way, way behind Bhubaneswar. If the slums of Bhubaneswar were cleaner than any other slum I've been to, the roads of Patna are slum-like. It's like people, authorities, everyone has just stopped making an effort.

When you speak of this to Nitish supporters, they try and say that we didn't see the pre-Nitish period. I have come here in 2000 and then 2005 so I think I can compare fine. They then change track and say that it's not just development, it's also law and order. Many people have said to me that they can now imagine going out in the evening with their families without worrying about kidnapping or harassment. The recently renovated Mona cinema now welcomes middle class families in their late night show finishing around midnight. I interviewed Sanjay Dayal, a jeweller who was kidnapped before, and says that he feels totally safe now.

All this is very well, but I wish, I wish, I wish, they would also care about basic sanitation and aesthetics more. If the rest of the country can, why can't Bihar? Buck up, Nitish!