Bihar: Campaigns Intensify: Battle for Bihar Begins
Arun Kumar Mishra
WITH the closure of nominations for the two phases of the Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for 6th and 11th November 2025, the political battlefield is now clearly drawn between the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). The contest is shaping up not just as a routine electoral event, but as a defining moment in Bihar’s political history.
The nomination filing of Tejashwi Yadav, Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate, witnessed a massive and spirited turnout in his home constituency of Raghopur, near Patna. The participation of ordinary citizens, party workers, and youth in large numbers reflects a growing desire for change and has sent a strong signal of the opposition's rising momentum.
In contrast, Ram Kripal Yadav-a former RJD leader now with the BJP-filed his nomination in the presence of top BJP leaders, including the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. However, despite the show of strength, the energy and organic support witnessed during Tejashwi's nomination rally stood out, suggesting a shift in the public mood.
In a telling development, Prashant Kishor, who had previously declared his intention to contest against Tejashwi Yadav, made a dramatic retreat. He instead announced that he would focus on helping his party, Jan Suraj, in getting its candidates elected-an implicit acknowledgment of Tejashwi’s growing appeal.
A sense of irony surrounds the NDA's choice to continue projecting Nitish Kumar as its leader. Despite his visibly declining health and waning popularity, the BJP has chosen to retain him as the face of the alliance-widely seen as a tactical move, possibly to sideline him later. This decision has exposed a deeper leadership vacuum within the NDA camp.
Following long-drawn seat-sharing negotiations in both camps, the focus has now shifted to the campaign trail. The next 25 days promise a high-pitched battle with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and other BJP heavyweights already making multiple visits to Bihar. Similar efforts are being made on the opposition side, where Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and leaders from the Left parties are jointly holding rallies and public meetings.
The Mahagathbandhan’s slogan-“Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” (Vote thief, vacate the seat)-has become a rallying cry, resonating with widespread dissatisfaction over two decades of BJP–JD(U) governance.
Faced with mounting public discontent and a resurgent opposition, the NDA government has rolled out a flurry of last-minute populist schemes in an apparent bid to reclaim voter confidence. Among the key announcements are a significant hike in the old-age pension-from Rs 400 to 1,100-and a cash benefit of Rs 1,000 for unemployed youth. Additionally, the government has promised Rs 10,000 to each woman affiliated with Jeevika self-help groups, increased honorariums for scheme workers, and transferred Rs 5,000 to nearly half of the state’s registered construction workers. Perhaps the most striking reversal comes from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself, who, after years of opposing free electricity, has now pledged 125 units of free power for every household. While these measures may offer short-term relief, they are widely perceived as reactionary and desperate attempts to blunt the growing appeal of the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign.
In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign has revolved around substantive welfare promises that particularly appeal to Bihar’s youth and working classes. Key pledges include: Rs 2,500 per month under the "Mai-Bahan Yojana", Rs 1,500 as a universal pension, One government job per household.
During their 17 months in government, the Mahagathbandhan claims to have created over 5 lakh government jobs, making steady progress on Tejashwi Yadav’s earlier promise of 10 lakh jobs. With this track record, his renewed pledge to guarantee one job per household is being viewed as both ambitious and credible.
Tejashwi has succeeded in putting employment at the heart of the electoral debate-an issue the mainstream media has often overlooked due to its discomfort with narratives that challenge the dominant neo-liberal development model.
Tellingly, even Nitish Kumar has now announced a promise to create one crore jobs if re-elected-a move that appears directly influenced by the opposition's employment-focused agenda.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) has fielded strong candidates in multiple constituencies: Ajay Kumar from Bibhutipur, Satyendra Yadav from Manjhi, Shyam Bharti from Hayaghat and Raj Mangal Prasad from Pipra.
The nomination events in these constituencies saw enthusiastic and inclusive participation, cutting across caste and community lines, underscoring the Left's continued relevance at the grassroots level.
Senior leaders such as Amra Ram (Polit Bureau member and MP from Sikar, Rajasthan), State Secretary Lalan Choudhary, and Central Committee member Awadhesh Kumar joined the campaign trail alongside the candidates. Leaders and cadres from RJD, VIP, CPI, and CPI(ML) were also present in strength, highlighting growing coordination within the Mahagathbandhan.
Two sitting CPI(M) MLAs-from Bibhutipur and Manjhi-have earned praise for their tireless work both on the ground and inside the Assembly. Their advocacy on behalf of peasants, workers, weavers, and the marginalized has given them strong credibility not just within their constituencies, but across Bihar.
