Patna, Bihar: With the two-phase Bihar Assembly Elections approaching on November 6 and 11, the campaign has intensified, marked by sharp exchanges and a focus on jobs, development, and social justice.
Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate, has centered his campaign on the promise of providing a government job to at least one member of every household in Bihar.
He has vigorously defended this pledge, which critics call fiscally unfeasible, by pointing to the approximately five lakh jobs created during his 17-month tenure as Deputy Chief Minister.
The RJD leader has dismissed the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) frequent “jungle raj” charge as mere propaganda from political rivals. He asserts that the RJD’s support base is inclusive, not limited to the Muslim-Yadav combination, and that the alliance is receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from the public.
Shri Yadav has repeatedly attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling him a “puppet” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and claiming that the real power lies with the central leadership. He suggested that Kumar’s current health and political condition evoke sympathy rather than rivalry and predicted that the Janata Dal (United) would not survive after the 2025 elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined the campaign, focusing on “social justice” and “vote chori” allegations. Gandhi and Yadav jointly referred to Nitish Kumar as a “mask” or “remote-controlled” Chief Minister whose voice is no longer heard by the central government.
Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar has appealed to voters to support the NDA once more, stating that Bihar’s transformation over the past two decades has made “being a Bihari a matter of pride.” He highlights improved law and order and dedicated efforts for all communities, including Hindus, Muslims, upper castes, backward castes, and Dalits.
The NDA’s campaign is built around the narrative of “good governance, huge trust, and improved law and order.” Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah has framed the election as a choice between development and the return of “jungle raj.”
The NDA has promised to create one crore jobs through both government and private sectors, establish mega skill centers in every district, and launch schemes like “Lakhpati Didis” for women’s empowerment.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan publicly endorsed Nitish Kumar as the NDA’s Chief Ministerial face, clarifying that while the alliance is contesting under Kumar’s leadership, the final decision will be made by the elected legislators, a standard democratic process.
Shri Paswan has stressed that the NDA is united and stronger this time, focusing on aspirational Bihar with development milestones like the expansion of Darbhanga airport and improved infrastructure.
A new player, Shri Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, is fielding candidates in all 243 seats, though Shri Kishor himself is not contesting. His party’s presence is seen as a potential catalyst that could affect the vote shares of the two major alliances.
The Election Commission of India ordered the transfer of the Patna Superintendent of Police (Rural) following violence in Mokama after the murder of a Jan Suraaj Party supporter, underscoring the high tensions in some constituencies.
Candidates from both major alliances face a significant number of declared criminal cases, a continuing issue highlighted by election watchdogs.