Ahead of Bihar elections, Amit Shah calls on Nitish Kumar

As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, a crucial meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was held at the latter’s residence in Patna on Friday. The discussion, held on the last day of nominations for the first phase of polling in the 243-member assembly, is being seen as a strategic step to sharpen campaign coordination within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Election schedule and alliances

The Bihar assembly elections 2025 will be held in two phases, November 6 and 11, with results to be declared on November 14. The NDA’s seat-sharing pact has been finalised, under which the BJP and JD(U) will each contest 101 seats, while Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) have been allotted six seats each, and LJP (Ram Vilas) will contest 29 constituencies.

The Congress party released its first list of 48 candidates, including PCC chief Rajesh Ram (Kutumba) and CLP leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Kadwa). Out of these, 24 candidates will contest in the first phase, with the remaining names to be announced later.

Campaign momentum

Campaigning was further intensified when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath entered Bihar on Thursday, addressing rallies in support of Ramkripal Yadav (Danapur) and Shyam Rajak (Phulwari Sharif). His participation is being viewed as a strategic effort to consolidate BJP support across key constituencies.

Shah targets opposition

During the campaign, Amit Shah reportedly criticised RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, questioning his right to demand an account of governance. He emphasised that Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure had been marked by crime and instability, while significant development had been achieved under the NDA government.

Shah highlighted the achievements of the NDA government in Bihar, including the construction of new airports at Gaya and Purnea, the creation of a Makhana Development Board, and flood-control projects for the Kosi River worth over ₹26,000 crore. It was also pointed out that roads worth ₹3 lakh crore had been built and electricity and water connections had reached every household, reflecting the joint efforts of the Nitish Kumar government and the Narendra Modi-led Centre.

Significance of the meeting

The meeting is being seen as a strategic alignment exercise rather than a routine political engagement. Analysts note that it was aimed at reinforcing alliance coordination, projecting unity, and preparing election strategies. Nitish Kumar’s presence is viewed as an effort to maintain rural and OBC support, while Shah’s assertive messaging targets urban and aspirational voters.

The road ahead

With the first phase of polling just weeks away, Bihar’s elections are shaping up as a contest between governance and nostalgia, stability and change. The NDA is focusing on infrastructure, welfare delivery, and law-and-order achievements, while the opposition is expected to highlight governance lapses, unemployment, and Nitish Kumar’s political shifts.

As political intensity rises, the effectiveness of the NDA’s projected unity and the opposition’s counter-narrative will be closely watched. Bihar’s verdict, as always, may defy expectations, with voter sentiment, caste dynamics, and local issues playing a decisive role in shaping the state’s political landscape.