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    COVER STORY                                                         OCTOBER 31, 2025       |  The Indian Eye                    5

            emotional undercurrent. By invoking                                                                   alliance must prove that it can mod-
            his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, as the                                                                 ernize its politics while preserving its
            original voice of the poor and back-                                                                  social justice legacy. Tejashwi Yadav’s
            ward classes, he frames the election                                                                  leadership will be tested on two fronts:
            as a moral struggle against persecu-                                                                  his ability to attract youth disenchant-
            tion. “If Laluji didn’t fear Modi, will                                                               ed with joblessness and to hold to-
            his son?” he asked defiantly. He has                                                                  gether a broad coalition of caste, class,
            promised multiple Deputy Chief Min-                                                                   and ideology. A loss could weaken his
            isters to represent Bihar’s diversity,                                                                standing as Lalu’s heir; a strong show-
            naming Mukesh Sahani as one, and                                                                      ing could catapult him into the nation-
            pledging that others will come from                                                                   al opposition space.
            minority communities. The move is                                                                         And for Prashant Kishor’s Jan
            a political masterstroke — broaden-                                                                   Suraaj, these elections are a baptism
            ing his coalition’s social reach while                                                                by  fire.  Winning  even  a  handful  of
            subtly countering the BJP’s Hindutva                                                                  seats would signal the arrival of a new
            appeal.                                                                                               centrist, reform-oriented alternative
                For RJD, the 2025 election is                                                                     in  Bihar’s  politics  —  something  the
            more  than  a  fight  for  power;  it’s  an                                                           state hasn’t seen in decades. Kishor’s
            ideological comeback. The party                                                                       challenge is formidable: to convert
            seeks to replace the stigma of “jungle                                                                admiration into votes and build cred-
            raj” with the promise of social justice   Vikassheel Insaan Party Chief, Mukesh Sahni presents bouquet to leader of opposition in Bihar   ibility in a deeply polarized environ-
            and renewal. Its strategy — emo-   State Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar State Congress President, Rajesh Kumar and Former   ment. But his rise could reshape the
            tional  outreach,  caste  consolidation,                                                              language of politics in Bihar, moving
            and youth mobilization — could test   Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot also present, in Patna on Thursday (ANI Photo)  the debate from “who rules” to “how
            the NDA’s stronghold in regions like                                                                  we are governed.”
            Mithilanchal, Bhojpur, and Seeman-  gins in key constituencies, especially   rents of power.               WHY BIHAR MATTERS
            chal.                             in North Bihar and Champaran. His     For the NDA, a victory would
                                              insistence that “people of Bihar have   reaffirm the BJP’s dominance in the   eyond its 243 assembly seats,
                 A THIRD VOICE RISING         been voting out of compulsion, not   Hindi heartland and consolidate its   Bihar’s elections are a mirror
                                              conviction” hints at an attempt to re-  image of governance and stability. Ni- Bof India’s political mood. For
                     hile the BJP and RJD trade   define Bihar’s political consciousness.   tish  Kumar’s  continued  partnership   the BJP, a resounding victory would
                     charges, a quieter but po-
            Wtentially disruptive cam-        Even if Jan Suraaj doesn’t win big, it   with the BJP remains critical for both   strengthen its national narrative ahead
            paign is unfolding under Prashant   could play spoiler in tight races, frag-  — for the BJP to maintain its northern   of 2026 — that welfare, infrastructure,
                                                                                coalition, and for Nitish to preserve
                                                                                                                  and governance can overcome anti-in-
                                              menting the anti-incumbency vote or
            Kishor’s Jan Suraaj. Once the master   drawing away disillusioned youth from   relevance in the twilight of his political   cumbency. For the opposition, Bihar
            strategist behind Modi’s and Nitish   both alliances.               career. A strong win would also allow   offers a laboratory to test coalition
            Kumar’s electoral triumphs, Kishor                                  Modi to showcase Bihar as proof that   unity and social mobilization in a state
            now casts himself as Bihar’s reform-  STAKES HIGHER THAN EVER       “development politics” trumps caste   where caste identities remain power-
            er-in-waiting — the man determined                                  arithmetic.                       ful but aspirations are rapidly shifting.
            to “end political bonded labour.”      he  2025 Bihar Assembly  elec-   For the RJD-led Mahagathband-     The outcome will also influence
                Campaigning in West Cham-
                                                   tions are not just about who
            paran, Kishor’s speeches are less fiery   Tgoverns Patna — they are a po-  han, this election is existential. Having   the shape of the national opposi-
                                                                                                                  tion bloc. If the Mahagathbandhan
                                                                                tasted power intermittently but strug-
            but  no  less  pointed.  “A  bullet  train   litical test for India’s three major cur-  gled with internal contradictions, the   performs well, it could embolden
            worth ₹1 lakh crore is being built in                                                                 regional parties in Uttar Pradesh
            Gujarat, while Bihar’s youth struggle                                                                 and Jharkhand to pursue stronger
            to get a seat in a train to come home                                                                 anti-BJP coordination. If the NDA
            for Chhath,” he said — a line that has                                                                sweeps  again,  it  would  confirm  the
            gone viral across Bihar’s villages. His                                                               BJP’s continued dominance in India’s
            message — that both the NDA and                                                                       heartland, giving Modi a symbolic vic-
            RJD have reduced Bihar’s voters to                                                                    tory over both old rivals and new re-
            captive electorates of fear — reso-                                                                   formers.
            nates deeply among first-time voters                                                                      Meanwhile, the emergence of
            and the middle class.                                                                                 Prashant Kishor introduces a wildcard
                Kishor’s Jan Suraaj movement,
            launched over three years ago, has                                                                    — a reminder that Bihar’s political
                                                                                                                  soil, though shaped by tradition, is fer-
            been systematically building grass-                                                                   tile for disruption.
            roots networks in all 243 constitu-                                                                       As Bihar prepares to vote on No-
            encies. The campaign’s strength lies                                                                  vember 6 and 11, the campaign trails
            not in charisma but organization:                                                                     of Modi, Tejashwi, and Kishor reveal
            padayatras, citizen consultations, and                                                                a state standing at a crossroads. The
            promises of local governance reform.                                                                  prime minister’s rallies evoke pride in
            His slogan, “Vote for yourself, not                                                                   progress  and  fear  of  regression;  the
            for fear,” encapsulates a challenge to                                                                RJD’s counters promise justice, jobs,
            both Modi’s and Tejashwi’s personal-                                                                  and dignity; and Kishor’s quiet revolu-
            ity-driven politics.                                                                                  tion whispers of renewal.
                Analysts say Kishor’s impact may
                                                                                                                      Together, they make this election
            not immediately translate into seats,       Jan Suraaj Party Chief, Prashant Kishor during election campaign,    not just a contest for power — but a
            but  it  could  significantly  affect  mar-            in Saran on Wednesday (ANI Photo)
                                                                                                                  struggle for the political soul of Bihar.

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