Bihar Elections

Bhagalpur, Bihar: The political temperature in Bihar’s election campaign soared today as Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a blistering attack on RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate, Tejashwi Yadav, over his public admiration for Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin. Addressing a rally, Shah targeted the unity of the opposition INDIA bloc by connecting Tejashwi Yadav to controversial past remarks allegedly made by a leader from Stalin’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, which is a key ally in the national coalition. The Heart of the Controversy: “Biharis Compared with Beedis” Amit Shah’s core claim centred on an alleged derogatory comparison against the people of Bihar. > 🎙️ Quote from Amit Shah’s Rally: > “Someone asked Lalu’s son [Tejashwi Yadav] who his favourite CM is. He said Stalin. Do you know who he is? His party compares Biharis with beedis! His party insults Biharis and disgraces them. Tejashwi’s favourite is this CM.” > This statement is a direct attempt by the NDA to leverage past regional and linguistic controversies to create a wedge between the Mahagathbandhan’s leader and the Bihari electorate, particularly those who have migrated for work. The reference is to previous disparaging remarks by certain DMK leaders that have been interpreted as demeaning to migrant workers from North Indian states, including Bihar. The Political Backlash: Why the Attack Matters Tejashwi Yadav has previously expressed admiration for the governance and social justice model of M.K. Stalin, and the two have shared the stage at recent INDIA bloc events, including the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar. By highlighting the alleged “beedi” remark, Amit Shah is attempting to turn this alliance into a liability for the RJD leader on his home turf. * Regional Sentiments: The attack taps into deep-seated regional pride and sensitivities, especially on the issue of dignity for Biharis working across the country. By portraying the DMK as ‘anti-Bihari,’ the BJP seeks to undermine the credibility of Tejashwi Yadav’s national alliance. * Welfare & Development: Shah countered Tejashwi’s focus on unemployment by shifting the narrative to regional pride and cultural issues. He also used the opportunity to reinforce the NDA’s development agenda and his party’s commitment to the construction of a Sita temple in Bihar, while accusing the DMK of insulting Sanatan Dharma and opposing the Ram Temple. * “Jungle Raj” Warning: Shah reiterated the NDA’s familiar warning against the return of ‘Jungle Raj’ (misrule) under an RJD-led government, linking Tejashwi’s politics to the alleged past terror of the Lalu Prasad era. The Mahagathbandhan and the DMK are yet to issue an official, detailed response to this specific allegation in the context of the Bihar elections. However, the BJP’s strategy is clear: paint the MGB as aligned with forces that disrespect the people and cultural values of Bihar, forcing Tejashwi Yadav to defend not just his party, but his allies as well. This high-profile political mudslinging demonstrates how national alliance dynamics are being intensely scrutinised and weaponized in the final phase of the Bihar Assembly polls. Would you like to know more about the broader campaign issues of the Bihar elections, such as the specific welfare schemes mentioned by Amit Shah or the RJD’s ’10 lak h jobs’ promise?

Bihar: The record-breaking voter turnout in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has thrown the political analysis wide open, turning the counting day into a high-stakes guessing game. With voters queuing up in numbers the state hasn’t witnessed in decades (reaching a historic 64.66% in Phase 1), both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB) are confidently claiming the surge is in their favor. But what does this unprecedented enthusiasm truly signify? 📈 The High Turnout: A Dual-Sided Coin Historically in Bihar, a significantly high voter turnout has often been interpreted as a sign of anti-incumbency—a collective push by voters eager for a regime change. This narrative fuels the Mahagathbandhan’s hopes, led by a resurgent RJD, whose campaign has heavily focused on issues like unemployment and a desire for change, resonating strongly with the youth. However, the NDA is equally bullish. The ruling alliance, centered around the JD(U) and BJP, argues that the turnout is a demonstration of pro-incumbency enthusiasm, particularly among the beneficiaries of central and state welfare schemes. The noticeable increase in participation from women voters (often higher than men) and in seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) is a critical metric here, as these groups have often been targeted by the incumbent government’s social engineering and welfare policies. * Mahagathbandhan’s Hope: High turnout signals a yearning for parivartan (change), driven by anti-incumbency sentiments over issues like jobs and migration. * NDA’s Claim: High turnout reflects trust in the “double-engine” government’s development plank and is a vote of confidence from beneficiaries of welfare schemes, especially women and Dalits. 📊 The ‘60% Turnout Puzzle’ and Past Trends Political analysts often point to an intriguing trend related to the 60% mark: * Below 60% Turnout: All of Nitish Kumar’s clear victories (2005, 2010, 2015, and the close contest in 2020) were recorded when the final voter turnout remained below the 60% threshold. * Above 60% Turnout: A surge past this mark, as seen in the first phase, historically suggests a stronger possibility of a major political shift or a wave for change. This time, with the first phase crossing the 64% mark, the traditional pattern is being tested like never before. The jump is substantial—an over 8-percentage-point increase from the first phase of the 2020 Assembly polls. This indicates a high level of voter mobilization and excitement across the board. 🔑 The Decisive Factors: Demographics and Vote Split The 2020 election saw a razor-thin difference in vote share—a mere 0.03% separated the NDA’s total vote share from the MGB’s, yet the seat gap was significant (125 seats to 110). This underscores the fragility of Bihar’s First-Past-the-Post system, where small vote swings or a ‘spoiler’ candidate can disproportionately affect the seat tally. In the current context, the narrative has shifted to the surge in Dalit voter participation and the influence of new political entrants, whose candidates might act as spoilers, potentially fragmenting the anti-incumbency vote which typically favours the opposition. The eventual outcome will not just depend on how many people voted, but who they voted for. Whether the wave of first-time and enthusiastic voters was driven by a desire to unseat the incumbent or to reward them for their work will only be revealed on the counting day. What is your next question about the Bihar elections? Would you like an analysis on the key seats to watch in the subsequent phases or a breakdown of the core issues that dominated the el ection campaign?

New Delhi With polling for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections set for November 11, 2025, the state has become the epicenter of a political blitzkrieg.1 Senior leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) are holding non-stop rallies in a feverish final push to woo voters across 122 crucial assembly constituencies.2 The ultimate outcome of the two-phase election—which saw voting for the first phase on November 6—will now be decided by voters in the final stretch, covering key regions like Seemanchal, Magadh, Shahabad, and Champaran.3     The NDA Push: Modi-Shah Blitzkrieg vs. ‘Jungle Raj’   The NDA, comprising the BJP and JD(U), has deployed its biggest firepower, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah leading the charge.4 Prime Minister Modi has addressed multiple rallies in districts like Aurangabad, Bhabhua, Saharsa, and Katihar, focusing heavily on development, national security, and the success of central welfare schemes.5 His core strategy revolves around contrasting the “good governance” (Sushasan) of the incumbent government with the alleged “jungle raj” of the RJD-led past.6 Key NDA Messages: Development & Governance: Promises of infrastructure (new expressways, airports, metro), and a blueprint for attracting investments to boost Bihar’s economic base. Women-Centric Schemes: Highlighting schemes like ‘Lakhpati Didis’ (aiming to make one crore women earn over ₹1 lakh annually) and other welfare packages. Job Creation: Pledging two crore new jobs over the next five years through large-scale investment and the establishment of global skilling centers.   Mahagathbandhan’s Counter: A Marathon for ‘Tejashwi’s Promise’   The Mahagathbandhan, spearheaded by Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), has maintained a relentless, high-energy campaign, focusing overwhelmingly on the theme of youth aspiration and unemployment. Tejashwi Yadav has been conducting a series of marathon rallies, sometimes addressing 15-18 public meetings in a single day, cementing his image as the young challenger.7 He has been joined by senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, in areas like Banka, Bhagalpur, and Saharsa. Key Mahagathbandhan Promises: Jobs Law: The alliance’s biggest pledge is to pass a law guaranteeing one government job per household within 20 days of forming the government. Financial Aid: Promising ₹2,500 per month to women under the ‘Mai-Behin Maan Yojana’ and 200 units of free electricity per month for every household. Social Justice: Vowing to hike reservation quotas for Most Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes.   The Decisive Issues: Jobs vs. Development   The final phase has distilled the contest into a sharp narrative clash.8 Issue NDA (BJP/JD(U)) Stance Mahagathbandhan (RJD/Congress) Stance Employment Focus on long-term industrial investment and two crore jobs over five years; accuses RJD of failing on this issue historically. Focus on immediate relief with a guaranteed government job per family within a month of forming the government. Governance Emphasizes ‘Sushasan’ (Good Governance) under the incumbent CM and warns against a return to the ‘Jungle Raj’ of the RJD era. Accuses the NDA government of two decades of stagnation, migration, and paper leaks in recruitment exams. Welfare Highlights existing central schemes (free rations, health insurance) and targeted women’s empowerment programs. Promises direct financial aid (₹30,000 annually) for women and free electricity. As the political heat reaches its zenith, the fate of the next Bihar government hangs in the balance, resting entirely on how voters in the final 122 seats prioritize these core issues. The results for all 243 constituencies will be declared on November 14, 2025.9  

Aurangabad, Bihar – Prime Minister Narendra Modi escalated his attack on the Opposition’s Mahagathbandhan in Bihar on Friday, deploying a sharp, vernacular jibe to caution voters against returning to the state’s past era of lawlessness.1 Speaking at an election rally in Aurangabad, the Prime Minister asserted that the people of Bihar emphatically reject a ‘Katta Sarkar’—a government ruled by the gun—and have no desire to relive the days of ‘dunaali’ (double-barreled gun) and ‘rangdaari’ (extortion).2 The fiery rhetoric is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s strategy to frame the election as a contest between its vision of Vikas (development) and the Opposition’s alleged history of Jungle Raj (misrule), a term frequently used to describe the period of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) rule between 1990 and 2005.3   The ‘Katta, Dunaali, Rangdaari’ Slur   The Prime Minister’s comments target the core of the RJD’s governance record.4 ‘Katta Sarkar’: The phrase translates to ‘gun government,’ symbolizing a regime defined by crime, corruption, and a complete breakdown of law and order. PM Modi stated clearly, “Bihar does not want a ‘Katta’ Sarkar.5 Bihar wants a government focused on development and good governance.” ‘Dunaali’ and ‘Rangdaari’: These two words paint a picture of a criminalized political environment. ‘Dunaali’ (double-barreled gun) emphasizes gun violence, while ‘Rangdaari’ means extortion or protection money, a practice that allegedly crippled businesses and caused a severe flight of capital and youth migration from the state during the ‘Jungle Raj’ years. PM Modi contrasted this imagery with the NDA’s track record, stating that his government and its allies, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, have replaced this atmosphere of fear with stability and progress.6 He highlighted key development projects, infrastructure growth, and welfare schemes as the NDA’s guarantee for a ‘Viksit Bihar’ (Developed Bihar).7   The Battle for Bihar’s Narrative   The Opposition, led by the RJD and the Congress, has been quick to dismiss the PM’s allegations. Senior leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, have hit back, calling the ‘Katta’ comments and other attacks on the Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto a bundle of “lies” designed to distract from the real issues of unemployment, poverty, and inflation.8 However, the NDA continues to push the narrative of law and order, a politically potent issue in the state. By constantly invoking the fear of a return to the past, the Prime Minister is making a direct appeal to the youth and women voters, who are seen as major stakeholders in maintaining peace and stability. As Bihar heads into the subsequent phases of polling, the debate remains starkly polarized: a choice between the NDA’s promise of continuity and development versus the fear of returning to the ‘katuta, krurta, kushasan’ (bitterness, cruelty, misrule) of the past, as articulated by the Prime Minister.9   The video provides relevant context on the opposition’s connection to the ‘Rangdari’ and ‘Jungle Raj’ narrative being pushed by the BJP leadership in the Bihar election. JP Nadda Tears Into RJD, Says Party Stands For ‘Rangdari’, ‘Jungle Raj’ & ‘Dadagiri’