NEW DELHI: 16 April2025: As Bihar gears up for its 2025 Assembly elections, the political landscape is witnessing heightened activity, with both the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the rival Congress-led INDIA alliance intensifying their campaigns. The BJP aims to replicate its Maharashtra strategy by establishing a government led solely by its party, while the INDIA alliance seeks to consolidate its position by projecting a clear leadership.
The BJP has yet to announce a chief ministerial candidate for Bihar, leading to speculation and internal debates within the party. Recently, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stirred controversy by publicly suggesting that Bihar BJP President Samrat Choudhary could be the party’s CM face. This unsolicited endorsement has reportedly caused friction with the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], an ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which views such statements as premature and potentially disruptive to coalition harmony.
Observers note that the BJP’s reluctance to declare a CM candidate might be a calculated risk, aiming to keep options open and manage internal factionalism. However, this ambiguity could also lead to uncertainty among voters and allies alike, potentially affecting the party’s electoral prospects.
In contrast, the INDIA alliance has taken a decisive step by projecting Rastriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate. This decision was reaffirmed in a meeting of the alliance’s legislature party, where Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the 2025 Assembly elections would be contested under Tejashwi’s leadership. Nitish Kumar emphasized his commitment to defeating the BJP and clarified that he does not aspire to any higher political office, thereby endorsing Tejashwi’s leadership unequivocally.
The RJD has also reiterated Tejashwi’s candidacy, dismissing any dissenting voices within the alliance. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary emphasized that Tejashwi was the CM face in the 2020 elections and will continue in that role for the upcoming polls .
Congress’s Hesitation
Despite the consensus between JD(U) and RJD, the Congress party has shown reluctance to endorse Tejashwi Yadav as the CM candidate. Congress leader Ajeet Sharma stated that the decision regarding the chief ministerial face should be made collectively by all alliance partners and that the Congress high command would have the final say. This hesitation indicates underlying tensions within the alliance, which could affect its cohesion and electoral strategy.
The contrasting approaches of the BJP and the INDIA alliance highlight the evolving political dynamics in Bihar. The BJP’s strategy of withholding a CM announcement may be aimed at maintaining internal flexibility, but it risks alienating allies and creating voter uncertainty. On the other hand, the INDIA alliance’s clear projection of Tejashwi Yadav provides a unified front, though internal disagreements, particularly with the Congress, could pose challenges.
As the elections approach, both alliances will need to navigate these complexities carefully. The BJP must manage its internal dynamics and alliance relations, while the INDIA alliance must work towards resolving internal dissent to present a cohesive alternative to the electorate.
