Ahead of October’s Assembly polls, the voters of Bihar will be wooed by a new comic series on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar similar to the “Bal Narendra” series on Narendra Modi that hit the stands last year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Titled Munna se Nitish , this comic series is now available on the Facebook page on Nitish Kumar (https://www.facebook. com/PhirNK).
Through this comic series, Mr. Kumar’s campaign team has planned to brand him a leader Bihar needs once again. The whole concept and design is by the team of Prashant Kishor, who had conceptualised “Bal Narendra” for Mr. Modi.
Mr. Kishor, with his team of professionals, has been hired by Mr. Kumar for his poll campaign and ostensibly he has replicated his 2014 campaign for Mr. Modi. The huge billboards with pictures of Mr. Kumar alone, the slogans written on them, missed calls to make a connection with Mr. Kumar, breakfast meetings with Mr. Kumar and now the comic series on him, were all used as campaign strategies for Mr. Modi.
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The comic series
The comic series depicts the experiences of Munna/Nitish Kumar which later inspired many changes in the State when he became Chief Minister.
In the first caricature, Munna is seen taking blessings from mother by touching her feet. “Mother’s blessing has so much of power and I’ve come to seek those blessings, says Nitish Kumar and put his head on her feet … and, mother says wish you long life,” says the text along the caricature.
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In the second post, young Nitish is seen refusing a bundle of currency notes as dowry. “At the time of his marriage, Nitish had refused to accept Rs. 22,000 as dowry and decided for court marriage,” says the text.
Political observers said a copycat campaign may not pay poll dividends as Bihar has a different political culture.