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Vinod Tawde’s strategic leadership was key to NDA’s Bihar win, blending caste precision, welfare focus, and migrant mobilisation with Modi’s appeal
Vinod Tawde’s rise within the BJP has been shaped by decades of organisational work rather than headline-grabbing politics. (PTI/File)
In the wake of the NDA’s emphatic victory in Bihar, the political spotlight has largely rested on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s formidable appeal, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s reputation for clean governance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s organisational acumen, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s ground-level mobilisation. Yet, behind the scenes, a different architect quietly steered the campaign through some of its most complex political contours.
JP Nadda, BJP national president, and Amit Shah had, much ahead of the polls, reposed their trust in Vinod Tawde, the party’s national general secretary who was tasked with overseeing the politically intricate Bihar unit. The decision had drawn criticism at the time, with observers questioning the rationale of appointing a Maharashtra leader in a state with a sensitive history of regional tensions linked to alleged ‘Bihari insults’. But Tawde turned the appointment into an opportunity to demonstrate his organisational depth. By the time voting began, even critics conceded that he had reengineered Bihar’s election machinery with unusual precision.
Vinod Tawde’s Rise In The BJP
Tawde’s rise within the BJP has been shaped by decades of organisational work rather than headline-grabbing politics. Born in 1963 in Mumbai’s Girangaon mill district, he is considered a “son of the soil” by the Maratha community, a constituency the BJP has been attempting to reclaim since 2019.
Fluent in Marathi and known for his ability to adapt to local accents and cultures, Tawde carries the imprint of the RSS. He joined the ABVP in 1980, rose to national general secretary by 1988, and entered the BJP formally in 1994. His political mentors included Nitin Gadkari and Pramod Mahajan, under whom he learnt the art of ‘sangathan‘, or organisation-building.
In Maharashtra, Tawde held key portfolios under the Devendra Fadnavis government and also served as Leader of Opposition when the BJP was out of power. His firm yet affable approach has earned him the reputation of a problem-solver who “gets the job done with a smile”.
The Bihar Mandate: Tawde’s Deep-Dive Strategy
According to senior BJP leaders, Tawde began mapping Bihar months before the campaign gained momentum. Acting on inputs from Amit Shah, he conducted a constituency-by-constituency analysis of caste alignments across all 243 seats. The decision that even alliance seats would have candidates chosen based on BJP’s caste assessments became a cornerstone of the campaign. Nearly 9% of the alliance accepted this formula, a rare feat in Bihar’s fractious coalition landscape.
For the first time, NDA conferences were held in every constituency, allowing booth-level coordination between alliance partners well in advance. Insiders say this reduced friction, strengthened cadre-level communication, and lifted morale long before the Opposition’s campaign gained coherence.
A strategist closely involved in negotiations recalled the shadow of 2020, when Chirag Paswan’s breakaway campaign damaged the JD(U). This time, Tawde ensured that Paswan’s 6% vote share was secured, not by expecting seat wins but by guaranteeing influence where it mattered.
Tawde’s interpersonal skills have long been cited as his defining strength. Whether dealing with senior party bosses, disgruntled rebels or grassroots workers, he is known to engage with composure and tact.
A Maharashtra leader pointed to a recent example when former BJP MP Gopal Shetty’s rebellion threatened to undermine a crucial seat in Mumbai’s Borivli. Tawde, sources say, defused the situation by assuring Shetty a ministerial berth, a move that soothed egos and secured victory. This approach, party insiders say, was replicated in Bihar when dealing with prickly alliance negotiations.
NDA’s Women-Centric Welfare And Caste Precision
The NDA’s promise to deposit Rs 10,000 into women’s bank accounts was widely seen as a turning point. But leaders close to Tawde insist the welfare plank was only a visible layer of a deeper strategy designed to reach communities yet untouched by highways, airports and mega-infrastructure projects.
The manifesto’s emphasis on cash support, rations and essential household aid was crafted with the understanding that interior Bihar required immediate assistance while waiting for long-term development. Senior leaders say PM Modi insisted on monitoring these commitments personally.
In Magadh and Shahabad, the pairing of Pawan Singh and Upendra Kushwaha helped consolidate Rajput and Kushwaha votes. Opposition attempts to fracture this coalition, BJP leaders say, failed to gain traction.
Meanwhile, the party deliberately ignored allegations made by political strategist Prashant Kishor, believing that engaging would grant him unnecessary political relevance.
Mobilising Migrant Workers
Another element of the strategy involved ensuring high voter turnout among migrant workers. Around 5 lakh migrant labourers were reportedly transported back from Haryana alone, in a coordinated effort overseen by Sunil Sharma. Similar arrangements were executed in BJP-ruled states, significantly widening the NDA’s support base on polling day. The RSS, under senior functionary Alok Kumar, worked silently at the back end to synchronise cadre efforts.
The Modi Factor
While Tawde managed part of the backend, the front-facing campaign continued to hinge on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies, which consistently saw surges in local turnout. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emerged as one of the most sought-after campaigners after Modi and Shah.
Bihar, India, India
November 15, 2025, 14:01 IST
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