India, Oct. 26 -- In Bihar, BJP's national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh has taken direct charge of the campaign-and is running it with the steadiness of a headmaster determined to keep every student focused before the final exam.

For over a week, Santosh has been travelling across Bihar-Patna, Arrah, Muzaffarpur and Chapra-holding marathon meetings that stretch eight to nine hours a day. He is taking feedback from senior leaders who have come from other states to monitor candidates, reviewing ground performance and suggesting corrections wherever required.

"He's not sitting in Patna," a senior party functionary said. "He's on the move-checking, listening, correcting. Every evening, his table has feedback from across the...