PIcture : @NitishKumar/X
As the Election Commission of India announced the polls dates for the Bihar Assembly in two phases from Novermber 6, 11 and Results on Novemer 14, 2025, the stage is set for a bitter contest.
The eyes will be on the incumbent Chief Minister Nitsh Kumar . The 74-year old leader of the JD(U) leads the NDA along with the BJP and it’s allies. Given his age many poltical pundits see it as his last chance or a political Swnsong. Nitish has had a long innings as CM Of Bihar in-fact is the longest serving one with a record ninth term.
When Nitish assumed the post of CM after the Lalu Yadav’s RJD era he was quick to earn the adage ‘Sushasan Babu’ given his promises to give good governanance, stress on education, health, infrastructue and ending corruption , crime etc . These were good intiatives to get Bihar a administration/ government that is not remembered Jungle Raj. But unfortunately the image did not last long enough.
His long term as CM has come through deft manouvering and stunning the political circles. As Bihar headed towards the polls at numerous rallies where Nitish along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced host of development projects , social welfare schemes for women and variuous other sections of the society , people had one question – Will Nitish stay with NDA?
This question becomes all the more pertinent since Nitish has this penchant of switching sides with ease to meet his ambition unfazed by criticisim . Moves that has now earned him the tag of Switch Master’ . Just take look at these hard facts – Nitish parted ways with the BJP in 2013, formed the Mahagathbandhan in 2015, rejoined the BJP in 2017, returned to the Mahagathbandhan in 2022, and switched back to the NDA in 2024.
And this time in 2025 the challenge will be tough for Nitish . Given the SIR furore and the energised Mahagathbandan of RJD, Congress and allies. Who had managed to sway the crowds with their hugely successful ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ that was led by Leader of the Oppostion in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and was backed by RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav. Whether the yatra translates into votes remains to be seen. If it does then there is bound to headache for the NDA , BJP and Nitish Kumar.
The presence of new entrant Prashat Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party has alo generated interest in the polls . Will Prashant Kishore make a dent or will be vote cutter only 14th November will reveal the answers. Then there is the young 42-year old Chirag Paswan ( LJP( Ram Vilas). Chirag has five MP’s in Lok Sabha and is keen to contest /bag more seats for his party when NDA seat sharing arrangements are done. So NDA has it’s task cut out.
As of now the BJP , NDA have reaffirmed their faith in Nitish Kumar’s leadership going to the polls. It is not secret that BJP had often in the past has not shied away from visualising/ wanting a BJP Chief Minister in Bihar too, So for how long will it play second fiddle and give Nitish the CM seat despite JD(U) having less seats in the assembly?
NDA united under Nitish in Bihar is welcome. But for the record the Mahayuti was also united under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde when Maharashtra went to the polls was it not ? . But as soon as the results came and BJP bagging more seats , Eknath Shinde was dumped as Chief Minister and replaced by Devendra Fadnavis . A sulking Eknath Shinde put up a brave face and was given the post of Deputy CM.
So one hopes Nitish too does not go the Eknath Shinde way. That if it happens will be the Nadir of Nitish Kumar’s long political innings. Well November 14, 2025 will one hell of a day to watch out for.
