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EYE ON INDIA OCTOBER 24, 2025 | The Indian Eye 6
NDA Sounds Confident in Bihar as
BJP, Allies Project Unity and Momentum
With top leaders hitting the campaign trail and invoking both development and symbolism,
the ruling alliance signals that it enters the Bihar battle with confidence and cohesion.
alliances of the Mahagathbandhan.
OUR BUREAU
The confident tone wasn’t lim-
Patna (Bihar) ited to the BJP’s central leadership.
Senior leaders from other states have
s Bihar moves into election joined the Bihar campaign, amplify-
mode, the National Demo-
Acratic Alliance (NDA) has ing the narrative of momentum. Ma-
harashtra Chief Minister Devendra
rolled out an assertive campaign Fadnavis, campaigning in Begusarai,
strategy anchored in unity, continuity, told ANI that the mood across the
and the leadership of Prime Minister state was clearly pro-NDA.
Narendra Modi and Chief Minister The cross-state participation of
Nitish Kumar. From Union Home senior leaders like Shah, Fadnavis,
Minister Amit Shah’s rally in Saran and Maurya highlights the BJP’s or-
to Maharashtra Chief Minister De- ganisational depth and confidence in
vendra Fadnavis’ outreach in Begusa- using its national machinery to boost
rai, and statements from other senior local campaigns. It also reflects the
BJP and JD(U) leaders, the message party’s belief that Modi’s popularity
is clear: the NDA believes it has the remains the decisive factor in Bihar’s
wind in its sails ahead of the Novem- political landscape.
ber polls.
Polling for the Bihar Assem-
bly elections will take place in two A CONFIDENT, COORDINATED
phases on November 6 and 11, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence, in CAMPAIGN
results on November 14. The NDA Patna on Friday (ANI Video Grab)
has already finalised its seat-shar- nalysts note that the NDA’s
ing formula — BJP and JD(U) will early and synchronised cam-
contest 101 seats each, while allies “Nitish Kumar has freed Bihar from alliance. Shah reiterated that the al- Apaign rollout, combined with
like Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshak- jungle raj. PM Modi, over the last 11 liance is contesting under Nitish Ku- clear messaging around Nitish’s
ti Party (Ram Vilas) will fight on 29 years, has worked to develop Bihar. mar’s leadership, an assertion aimed leadership and Modi’s development
seats, and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hin- His years have been a blessing to the at quelling speculation about tensions record, suggests a coalition working
dustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and poor.” between BJP and JD(U) after past from a position of confidence rather
Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Shah also used festive symbolism breakups. than defensiveness. The BJP’s strat-
Morcha (RLM) have been allotted to energise the electorate, claiming “We are fighting under the leader- egy appears to be to frame the elec-
six each. that Bihar will celebrate “four Di- ship of Nitish Kumar in Bihar,” Shah tion as a contest between stability and
walis” — one marking Lord Ram’s declared, signalling a calibrated ef- chaos, invoking the “jungle raj” met-
‘FOUR DIWALIS FOR BIHAR’ return to Ayodhya, another for Ni- fort to consolidate the NDA’s support aphor to remind voters of the 1990s
tish and Modi’s welfare schemes, a base across caste and regional lines. while showcasing welfare and infra-
ddressing a large rally in Sa- third for the GST reduction on 395 Reinforcing this message, JD(U) structure achievements.
ran’s Taraiya, Union Home products, and a fourth when the national president and Union Minis- With the Mahagathbandhan still
AMinister Amit Shah formally NDA wins “with the biggest major- ter Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) struggling to project a united face,
launched the BJP’s campaign, strik- ity, sweeping away Lalu, Rahul and reiterated that the opposition’s nar- the NDA’s optics of coordination —
ing both emotional and political company.” rative about division within the NDA visible in its joint rallies, coherent
notes. By invoking the end of “La- By blending Hindutva symbol- was misplaced. communication, and balanced seat
lu-Rabri’s jungle raj” and crediting ism with welfare economics, Shah “There is no Mahagathbandhan distribution — have given it a head
Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi underscored the BJP’s dual cam- but only ‘Thugbandhan’ — a gang of start. By setting the tone early, the al-
for transforming Bihar, Shah sought paign plank — cultural consolidation cheats,” he said, accusing the Oppo- liance aims to dominate the narrative
to remind voters of the coalition’s and developmental delivery — both sition of trying to malign the NDA’s over the next few weeks and convert
development narrative while rallying of which have been central to its elec- image. “Amit Shah has said clearly its messaging advantage into elector-
the youth around law and order and toral strategy nationwide. we are contesting under Nitish Ku- al momentum.
governance. mar’s leadership. The voters know As Amit Shah said in Saran,
“When you start campaigning NDA PROJECTS CONFIDENCE the truth.” “When you start from here, we
from Saran, we only see victory. AND UNITY The NDA’s messaging machinery only see victory.” That sentiment —
There is no better place than Ch- has also sought to emphasise the sta- echoed by leaders across the NDA —
hapra to remind the youth about the he NDA campaign is being bility of the Modi–Nitish partnership, captures the coalition’s mood: confi-
jungle raj of Lalu and Rabri and take carefully orchestrated to dis- contrasting it with what it portrays dent, cohesive, and ready to claim
a pledge to fight against it,” Shah said. Tplay unity within its diverse as the opportunistic and fractious Bihar once more.
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