Bihar Elections 2025: Nitish, ‘Nasha’, and Nemesis
An e-rickshaw driver in Bihar (Image TRH)
As Bihar heads to polls, Nitish Kumar’s legacy faces its toughest test yet—grappling with prohibition politics, governance fatigue, and the rise of formidable challengers.
By MANISH ANAND
PURNEA, September 5, 2025 — On the fifth day after he was tied with a rope to restrain his movements, Sunil Yadav (name changed) turned hysterical. He cried with an intensity that shook the village. At home, his family and younger brother—who had tied him up—felt their hearts sink.
“I rushed to a nearby place. It was there that he used to buy his nasha. I bought it and ran home,” said the younger brother. Sunil sniffed it, and finally became calm.
“I had tied him with the rope in the hope that he wouldn’t buy his nasha. But, ultimately, I myself gave up. The way he cried filled me with dread that my brother would die,” he added.
The nasha referred to by the addict’s brother is allegedly illicit drugs. “He steals money at home, sometimes as little as ₹250. He has a son and a daughter. His wife is in despair,” said Sunil’s brother, who drives an e-rickshaw to support the family.
He blamed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for youngsters allegedly falling prey to drugs. “With the situation in my family, I have decided to remain unmarried. Who will look after my brother’s family? I know he will die soon from his addiction,” he said.
As Bihar heads for the Assembly elections in November, people across districts speak of nasha. “Petty crimes are now the new normal in Bihar. Addicts are committing crimes for money, sometimes as little as ₹500,” said Rohit Choudhary.
Locals link the alleged easy availability of drugs to the prohibition policy of the incumbent Chief Minister. “The youth in particular are falling victim to drugs. The scope has widened and the intensity has grown after Bihar imposed prohibition,” Choudhary added.
He claimed that addicts can easily access illicit drugs. Several people complained that the state government remains in denial about the widening influence of drugs. They said they had not heard of de-addiction centres in local hospitals.
“Drug abuse follows prohibition. This was seen in Mizoram and Nagaland earlier. The issue needs serious attention,” said Manoj Anand, a senior political observer.
Nitish Kumar had imposed prohibition in Bihar as his flagship policy intervention. Political observers in Patna argue that the ban is central to his politics of appealing to women voters.
“Initially, women were happy that the Chief Minister shut down liquor shops under prohibition. Liquor vends had even opened outside villages earlier. But now one evil has given birth to another,” said Pankaj Yadav.
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