Bihar Election 2025: Three Political Figures Who Will Shape the State's Future

The political spotlight falls on Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, and Prashant Kishor as Bihar prepares for crucial Assembly elections

Patna:

As Bihar's political landscape gears up for upcoming Assembly elections, three key figures stand at the forefront, facing critical tests that could reshape the state's political trajectory. Their performance in this electoral contest may significantly influence their respective parties' futures and potentially write a new chapter in Bihar's political narrative.

Nitish Kumar: The 74-year-old Janata Dal (United) leader has dominated Bihar politics for two decades as Chief Minister. Once lauded as 'Sushashan Babu' for his development initiatives, Kumar's recent years have been marked more by political vacillations than governance achievements. Social media has circulated videos raising concerns about his health, prompting questions about his capacity to fulfill leadership responsibilities should the JDU-BJP alliance secure victory. With the BJP not proposing alternative leadership candidates, Kumar effectively remains the coalition's face entering the elections.

The crucial question emerges: will these elections enable Nitish Kumar to reclaim the Chief Minister position for an unprecedented 10th term, or will the results signal the conclusion of his political dominance in Bihar?

Tejashwi Yadav: The 35-year-old heir to RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav faces formidable challenges in this electoral contest. During the 2020 elections, RJD secured 75 of 144 contested seats, emerging as the Assembly's largest single party. However, underperformance by Congress alliance partners denied the party government formation opportunities.

Between elections, Tejashwi has independently steered his party while his father Lalu Yadav contended with health issues.

Following disappointing Lok Sabha election results last year, Tejashwi Yadav has mounted an aggressive campaign for the state elections. Beyond participating in Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra, he launched his own Bihar Adhikar Yatra to connect with voters before polling begins.

The young political leader now confronts the BJP's powerful electoral machinery and must achieve substantial gains to cross the victory threshold.

Prashant Kishor: The political strategist-turned-politician has transitioned from orchestrating campaigns for established parties to leading his own political movement. His Jan Suraaj Party, founded last year, prepares for its electoral debut. Following a statewide yatra in 2022, Kishor claims significant public support that he expects will manifest in election results. Established political figures have largely dismissed Jan Suraaj and predicted minimal impact from the newcomer.

Some observers have drawn parallels between Kishor and Arvind Kejriwal, suggesting his criticisms of Bihar politicians represent desperate attempts to establish political relevance.

Jan Suraaj has gained attention through strategic social media engagement, with Kishor becoming a significant pre-election talking point. The electoral outcomes will ultimately determine how well he meets heightened expectations.