Patna: The political battleground of Bihar has officially come alive as voting commenced today for the first phase of the two-stage Assembly election, covering 121 constituencies across 18 districts. With 3.75 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots, the high-stakes contest marks the beginning of a fierce face-off between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition’s Grand Alliance, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav.
The ruling NDA, spearheaded by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is seeking yet another term after nearly two decades in power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate enthusiastically in the “festival of democracy,” congratulating first-time voters and reminding them, “First voting, then refreshments.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has driven a high-voltage campaign fronted by Modi and backed by senior party leaders, ministers, and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states. However, speculation over the future leadership of Bihar clouded the NDA campaign, with murmurs that Nitish Kumar might be replaced after the election. Clarifications by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda came only at the last moment, reasserting Kumar as the alliance’s face.
The Opposition Grand Alliance, anchored by the RJD, has pinned its hopes on anti-incumbency and Tejashwi Yadav’s populist “jobs-for-every-home” promise a proposal to generate a staggering 1.3 crore government jobs. The RJD, which emerged as the single largest party in 2020, is banking on the youth and rural vote.
Tejashwi Yadav’s campaign, one of the most aggressive in recent years, has focused on core issues of unemployment, migration, corruption, education, and healthcare. His rallies have drawn huge crowds, reflecting widespread frustration among Bihar’s young workforce.
The Congress, an ally in the Grand Alliance, has struggled to maintain momentum. Although its campaign began with a joint foot march featuring Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, Gandhi’s prolonged absence from the state dampened the Congress’s energy. The lack of coordination between the two allies led to unresolved seat-sharing disputes, resulting in “friendly contests” between the RJD and Congress in more than a dozen constituencies a split that could benefit the NDA.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has added a new twist to the Bihar poll narrative with his Jan Suraaj Party contesting all 243 seats. Positioning himself as a reformist, Kishor has targeted corruption, mismanagement, and the deterioration of basic services in Bihar.
He claims his party will either “get fewer than 10 seats or more than 150,” asserting independence by refusing alliances before or after the polls. His entry could split the anti-BJP vote, making him a potential spoiler for both major alliances.
Both alliances have unveiled ambitious manifestos reflecting their divergent visions for Bihar’s future.
• The NDA’s 69-page manifesto features 25 key promises, including 1 crore job opportunities, skill development schemes for women, and a goal to make 1 crore women lakhpatis through entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
• The Grand Alliance manifesto, centered on Tejashwi Yadav’s “one job per family” pledge, positions employment as its defining electoral issue.
While the NDA argues that the state’s finances cannot sustain Yadav’s massive employment proposal, the RJD insists it is both feasible and necessary to revive Bihar’s economy.
Today’s first phase of polling covers 121 seats, primarily in Central Bihar, a region that proved decisive in the 2020 elections. Then, the Grand Alliance won 63 of these seats, while the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) together managed 55.
Among the 1,314 candidates contesting in this phase are several high-profile figures, including Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Samrat Chaudhary, and Mithali Thakur.
The Bihar election, often seen as a barometer for national politics, holds broader implications beyond the state. Its outcome could shape the political narrative leading into other upcoming state elections and even influence alliances ahead of the 2026 general election cycle.
As polling booths across the state witness long queues, Bihar’s electorate stands at a crossroads between the promise of renewal championed by Tejashwi Yadav and the tested stability offered by Nitish Kumar’s NDA.
The battle for Bihar has only just begun and the results will echo far beyond the Ganges plains.