As Bihar approaches its pivotal assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11, 2025, the political landscape is abuzz with speculation and anticipation. With the 243-member assembly set for a fresh term, voters are weighing their choices in what is shaping up to be a contest not just between familiar faces, but also new contenders eager to reshape the state’s future. The prospect of a new chief minister looms large after the long and eventful reign of Nitish Kumar, and the field is crowded with personalities, promises, and political intrigue.
For many, Nitish Kumar remains the obvious choice. Having served as Chief Minister since 2005—save for a brief nine-month hiatus in 2014—his grip on Bihar’s top job has endured through shifting alliances and electoral upsets. According to Hindustan Times, even when his Janata Dal (United) had fewer seats than the BJP in the 2020 assembly elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) still installed him as Chief Minister. This decision, many believe, was a calculated move to maintain unity within the alliance and prevent future rifts. The JD(U) has been emphatic: if the NDA wins, Nitish Kumar will continue as CM. Several BJP leaders have echoed this sentiment, lending an air of inevitability to his candidacy.
Yet, in the unpredictable arena of Bihar politics, nothing is ever certain until the final announcement. The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has put forward Tejashwi Yadav as its de-facto face. As the largest constituent of the INDIA alliance, RJD’s clout is evident in its list of 143 candidates for the 243-seat assembly. Congress has thrown its weight behind Tejashwi, who is widely seen as a harbinger of change. His supporters tout him as a youthful alternative, while critics—particularly within the NDA—warn of a return to the days of his father Lalu Yadav’s so-called ‘jungle raj.’
Tejashwi Yadav has certainly not shied away from bold promises. On October 22, he announced a sweeping plan to make all contractual workers in Bihar government departments, as well as around 200,000 community mobilisers known as ‘Jeevika Didis,’ permanent employees if his alliance comes to power. These community mobilisers, integral to the World Bank-aided Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLP)—locally known as ‘Jeevika’—have been at the forefront of social and economic empowerment in rural Bihar. Tejashwi pledged that these workers would receive a monthly salary of ₹30,000, an extra allowance of ₹2,000, and insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh. He further promised to waive interest on loans taken by Jeevika Didis and offer interest-free credit for the next two years. “We have decided that all Jeevika Didis will be made permanent and accorded the status of government employees. Their salary will also be increased to ₹30,000 per month... Each one of them would receive an extra allowance of ₹2,000 per month and insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh,” Tejashwi declared at a press conference in Patna, as reported by LiveMint.
Tejashwi was also sharply critical of the current working conditions faced by many women contractual workers, noting, “Their services are terminated without any explanation, 18 per cent GST is deducted from their salary every month, and female employees are not given two days’ leave, and we will be changing all this.” His campaign has thus sought to position the Mahagathbandhan as the champion of workers’ rights and rural upliftment, hoping to galvanize a crucial segment of the electorate.
But the race for Bihar’s top post is far from a two-horse contest. Prashant Kishore, the political strategist turned activist, has thrown his hat into the ring through his Jan Suraaj party, which is contesting the polls independently. Although Kishore himself is not standing for election, his aggressive campaign and sharp critiques of both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan have made him a figure to watch. According to Hindustan Times, Kishore’s role as a potential kingmaker—or even a surprise chief minister—cannot be discounted. Should he be appointed CM, Kishore would need to secure election to the assembly within six months or step down, a constitutional quirk that adds another layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
Within the NDA, the BJP’s penchant for springing surprises has kept observers guessing. Samrat Choudhary, currently serving as Deputy Chief Minister, has been steadily gaining prominence. His experience and alliance credentials make him a potential dark horse, especially if the BJP decides to assert itself more forcefully in leadership decisions. The party’s history of elevating veterans to top roles—seen recently in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Delhi—means no one can be ruled out.
Chirag Paswan, Union Minister and head of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), is another name in the mix. In 2020, Paswan’s party contested 137 seats on its own but managed to win just one. This time, the LJP (RV) is contesting 29 seats as part of the NDA bloc, following intense negotiations and some internal friction. Paswan’s ambition for the chief ministership is well known, and his history of challenging Nitish Kumar adds an extra dimension to the NDA’s internal dynamics. As Hindustan Times notes, Paswan could emerge as a consensus candidate should the alliance seek a fresh face.
Upendra Kushwaha, chief of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), is also in contention, albeit with his party contesting just six seats. A seasoned politician with stints in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Kushwaha’s influence among the Kushwaha community makes him a valuable ally. He has publicly stated that Nitish Kumar should remain the NDA’s choice for chief minister, but as political history shows, surprises are always possible—especially in a state where alliances are fluid and arithmetic often trumps ideology.
The stakes are high, and the outcome will hinge on a complex interplay of party loyalty, caste equations, and the ability to deliver on promises. The Mahagathbandhan’s focus on social welfare, particularly through the Jeevika initiative, is a calculated bid to sway rural voters and women. Meanwhile, the NDA’s emphasis on continuity and stability seeks to reassure those wary of abrupt change. The entry of new players like Jan Suraaj adds unpredictability, potentially splintering votes and altering the calculus for both major alliances.
As the countdown to polling day continues, Bihar’s electorate faces a critical choice—between the known and the new, between competing visions for the state’s future, and among a cast of contenders each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and ambitions. The only certainty is that the result will reverberate far beyond Patna, shaping not just Bihar’s destiny, but also the evolving narrative of Indian politics in the years ahead.
