NDA to contest unitedly in Bihar polls, says JD(U) MP

Janata Dal (United) MP and National Working President, Sanjay Kumar Jha, on Tuesday stated that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections unitedly. He said the polls would shape Bihar’s development trajectory for the next 25 years.

The NDA will contest the election unitedly. The biggest issue in these elections is where Bihar will be in the next 25 years after the formation of the Government, Jha said.

Election schedule & process

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that the 243 Assembly seats will go to polls in two phases - November 6 and November 11, 2025, with counting of votes scheduled for November 14, 2025. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar also informed that the ECI will conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists nationwide following the announcement.

Parties & alliances

The NDA alliance in Bihar is led by JD(U) and BJP, and includes Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Manjhi’s Hindustan Awami Morcha, and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Shakti Party (RLSP). The NDA will face the INDIA bloc, led by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and the Congress, along with the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)) , Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist (CPI ML), and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). Prashant Kishor is entering the Bihar Assembly elections through his newly formed party, Jan Suraaj, and is not contesting as an independent candidate.

Past government performance

Jha criticized the RJD-Congress-led regime for “negative growth” in Bihar following the liberalisation of 1991, noting that while other states developed Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and industries, Bihar lagged in these areas. He contrasted this with Nitish Kumar’s tenure, highlighting progress in roads, electricity, law and order, and women’s empowerment.

“When Nitish Kumar came to power, Bihar entered a take-off stage. Roads, electricity, law and order, and women’s empowerment - he has worked on all of these. Bihar is in fourth gear. We have to go into fifth gear. The election will decide whether we enter fifth gear or back gear,” Jha said.

Campaign promises & strategies

The NDA has emphasized a united contest to demonstrate cohesion and project a stable governance record. The campaign focuses on continuing development achievements and ensuring Bihar’s progress over the next decades. The INDIA bloc seeks to consolidate opposition parties and present itself as an alternative governance option, while new entrants like Jan Suraaj aim to add fresh perspectives to Bihar’s political discourse.

Voter concerns & Key issues

The election will likely focus on long-term developmental goals, including economic growth, infrastructure, law and order, women’s empowerment, and employment opportunities. Voters will weigh the continuity and effectiveness of governance under the Janata Dal (United) against the promises and alternatives proposed by opposition parties.

In the 2020 Assembly elections, the NDA, led by Nitish Kumar, secured a majority in the Legislative Assembly by winning 125 seats. In August 2022, Kumar broke the alliance with the BJP, joined the RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan, and became a key figure in the opposition INDIA bloc. In January 2024, ahead of the Parliamentary elections, Kumar rejoined the NDA, forming the current alliance that will contest the 2025 Assembly polls.

These elections are seen as pivotal in determining the political direction and governance priorities of Bihar for the coming decades.