The Bihar assembly election is the first big electoral test for both the BJP and the Congress since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. For the BJP, it is a prestige battle in Bihar after its losses in Delhi, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. The party's relationship with ally Nitish Kumar is being put to test. Top party leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, credited for the 2019 Lok Sabha win, is not actively campaigning on the ground in Bihar. The results of the Bihar polls could they have an impact on the election next year in West Bengal, where voters and the BJP's opponents are closely watching the outcome.
