The political landscape in Bihar is heating up as parties prepare for the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11, 2025. The elections will be held in two phases for a total of 243 seats. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Grand Alliance are both intensifying their campaigns.

In the NDA, the Janata Dal (United) is contesting 101 seats, alongside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 101 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on 29, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) on 6, and Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM) on 6 seats. The Grand Alliance, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is contesting 143 seats, with Congress on 60, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) on 15, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) on 20, Communist Party of India on 6, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) on 4 seats.

Tejashwi Yadav has been declared the Chief Ministerial candidate for the Grand Alliance after much deliberation. Meanwhile, the BJP claims the elections are under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, although no formal announcement has been made regarding his candidacy. Leaders from JDU, HAM, and RLM continue to assert that “Nitishji was the Chief Minister, is the Chief Minister, and will remain the Chief Minister.”

The core voter bases for the major parties are well-defined: the JDU relies on Luv-Kush (Kurmi-Koeri), extremely backward, and Mahadalit communities; the RJD draws support from Muslim-Yadav voters; and the BJP appeals to upper caste voters. Historical voting patterns from the 2015 and 2020 elections indicate a shift in voter loyalty, with JDU losing significant support to both RJD and BJP in previous elections.

In 2015, JDU secured only 71 seats compared to RJD's 80, and in 2020, JDU's seat count dropped to 43 as BJP won 74 seats. Analysts suggest that the BJP's strategy may be aimed at diminishing Nitish Kumar's influence, as evidenced by the allocation of seats to LJP and the distribution of tickets favoring upper castes over JDU's traditional voter base.

As the election approaches, the JDU faces a critical challenge to maintain its support while countering the BJP's tactics. The outcome of the elections could significantly impact the welfare of vulnerable communities in Bihar, with concerns that a shift in power could lead to adverse conditions for those outside the dominant voter groups.

In a lighter moment amidst the political fervor, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav were spotted at Patna Airport, where a chance encounter was captured on camera. Tej Pratap was shopping when Tejashwi jokingly asked if he was helping his brother. The brief interaction highlighted the emotional distance between the two, as Tej Pratap appeared contemplative during the exchange.

As Bihar prepares for the elections, the strategies and alliances formed in the coming months will be crucial in determining the political future of the state.