Patna is abuzz with political maneuvering as the Bihar Assembly prepares to open its winter session on December 1, 2025, just weeks after a dramatic election reshaped the state’s political landscape. The newly elected representatives of the Opposition Mahagathbandhan, also known as the INDIA bloc, have rallied behind Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, unanimously electing him as their leader in the legislature. This decision, made at a joint meeting at Yadav’s official residence, marks the bloc’s first major move since a resounding defeat at the polls and signals their intent to present a united—if bruised—front against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
According to Hindustan Times, the meeting on November 30 at 1 Polo Road in Patna brought together legislators from the RJD, Congress, Left, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), and the Indian Inclusive Party (IIP). However, the absence of most Congress legislators, who were reportedly in Delhi for a party meeting, did not go unnoticed. Only one Congress MLC, Sameer Singh, attended, emphasizing that despite speculation, there is no rift within the alliance. "Whatever issues the government brings to the House, we will respond accordingly. If the government fails to act on its promises, we will continue our struggle. Unemployment is a key issue for us, as are law and order, farmers’ problems, and women’s safety. We will stand firm on all these points and hold the government accountable on every front," Singh stated, as reported by The Hindu.
The urgency of the meeting was clear. The Mahagathbandhan—rebranded as the INDIA bloc—had just suffered a crushing blow in the November assembly elections, winning only 35 seats in the 243-member House. The NDA, led by the BJP and JD(U), swept to victory with over 202 seats, cementing a decisive mandate. The BJP claimed 89 seats, JD(U) 85, LJP(RV) 19, HAM(S) five, and RLM four. The RJD managed 25 seats, Congress six, and the remaining four were split among the CPI(ML)L, CPI(M), and IIP.
Despite the setback, opposition leaders projected determination. RJD legislator Bhai Virender told reporters, “We will remain present throughout the five-day Assembly session and raise every issue in the House, especially to oppose the government’s wrong policies.” CPIM’s Ajay Kumar echoed this resolve, saying they would “forcefully raise the people's issues,” including “vote theft, SIR, law and order, and corruption.” The IIP’s IP Gupta added, “Number doesn’t matter; what matters is their enthusiasm.”
Still, the alliance’s unity is being tested. The RJD’s Bihar state chief, Mangani Lal Mandal, did not mince words when he blamed the Congress for the Mahagathbandhan’s defeat. Speaking to the media after a party review meeting, Mandal said, “Our party (RJD) workers were never in favour of the Mahagathbandhan from the very beginning. Still, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav showed a very big heart and generously gave Congress 61 seats. But the Congress became stubborn and fielded candidates against our official nominees at several places and split the votes.” He asserted, “Without the RJD, Congress’s performance would have been even worse. Even in 2020, they got 19 seats only because of the RJD.”
In a move that could signal future fissures, Mandal welcomed the possibility of the Congress contesting future elections separately: “We will welcome it. Once they fight alone, their real strength will come out in the open. No one can keep anyone tied by force.” The RJD’s review meeting, which began on November 27 and is set to continue until December 4, is expected to culminate in a final report to Tejashwi Yadav, charting the party’s next steps amid internal soul-searching and strategic recalibration.
The Congress, meanwhile, has pushed back against the RJD’s accusations. State Congress spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari retorted, “The one who begged for seats is now blaming us.” Another Congress leader, Gyan Rajnan, suggested the RJD was looking for an excuse to break ties, accusing Mandal of piloting a campaign against the Congress despite the party’s sacrifices for the alliance. The simmering tensions highlight the challenge of maintaining opposition unity in the face of electoral defeat.
Allegations of electoral malpractice have further complicated the post-election landscape. Mandal accused the BJP of “openly playing the money game” and criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) for remaining silent. “Chunao kadachar-yukt hua hai, dhandhli hui hai, jadu-tona hua hai, bahut sare mamlon me Chunao Aayog muk darshak bana raha,” he alleged. However, the Election Commission swiftly rebutted these claims, stating that opposition parties had failed to provide evidence or file complaints regarding vote theft or rigging. “No application for checking and verification of burnt memory/microcontroller has been received from any losing candidate in respect of any of the 243 assembly constituencies of Bihar in the recently concluded assembly elections,” the EC said on November 28, according to Times of India.
As the winter session begins, the Assembly will first witness the oath-taking of newly elected MLAs on December 1, followed by the election of the Speaker on December 2. The Governor’s address and the government’s financial and administrative business will round out the five-day period, setting the stage for the new government’s legislative agenda.
For the Mahagathbandhan, the session represents both a test and an opportunity. Outnumbered but not cowed, they plan to highlight issues such as unemployment, law and order, farmers’ distress, and women’s safety—hoping to connect with the public and keep the ruling NDA on its toes. The alliance’s internal dynamics, however, remain fraught. The RJD’s overtures towards a possible split with Congress, and Congress’s defensive posture, suggest that unity may prove elusive unless both sides find common ground.
Meanwhile, the NDA’s commanding majority gives it a clear mandate to govern, but also places the burden of expectation squarely on its shoulders. With the opposition vowing to scrutinize every policy and the public watching closely, the winter session is poised to set the tone for Bihar’s political discourse in the months ahead.
In Bihar’s ever-shifting political tapestry, the coming days will reveal whether the opposition can regroup and reassert itself—or whether the cracks on display will widen further, reshaping the state’s politics yet again.
