Tale of Two Sanjays: How Contrasting Strategies Shaped Bihar's 2025 Election Outcome

Sanjay Jha of the JDU (in white kurta) and Sanjay Yadav of the RJD

The 2025 Bihar elections culminated in a remarkable victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and a devastating defeat for the Mahagathbandhan. Behind this electoral drama lies the tale of two political strategists with distinctly different personalities.

Indian elections often resemble warfare, with ballots replacing bullets, and Bihar's political stage witnessed an intense battle reminiscent of the Mahabharata. In this modern recreation of the epic, two figures named Sanjay emerged, each reflecting the legendary Sanjaya who narrated the great Kurukshetra war.

These two Sanjays present a striking contrast. The 58-year-old Sanjay Jha represents the Janata Dal (United) as a composed yet resolute strategist, while the younger 41-year-old Sanjay Yadav serves as the flamboyant associate to Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

I have maintained a personal acquaintance with Sanjay Jha for over ten years, as we were neighbors in Delhi and fellow alumni of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He embodies subtlety and strategic thinking, listening attentively while maintaining a charming, gentle demeanor that exudes quiet confidence.

In Bihar, Sanjay Jha has gained recognition for establishing the 26-acre Mithila Haat in his village of Araria Sangram in Madhubani, adjacent to National Highway 57. This theme park, developed by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, has become a celebrated cultural and entertainment center showcasing Madhubani paintings, Sikki art, and diverse local Bihari cuisines.

As Water Resources Minister in Nitish Kumar's cabinet, Sanjay Jha implemented an extensive network of pipes and reservoirs throughout Bihar, ensuring drinking water accessibility even in rural homes. His ministerial tenure saw key projects like the Ganga Water Supply Scheme and the construction of a rubber dam on the Phalgu River in Gaya.

Jha, who studied History at JNU, combines intellectual depth with political acumen. As the JD(U) President and longtime ally of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, whose memory now shows signs of age, Jha has assumed a role characterized by action and effectiveness. He has been instrumental in guiding the NDA through complex electoral politics, securing an impressive victory with 202 seats in the 243-member assembly. Additionally, he serves as a political and media mentor to Nishant, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son.

Like a skilled charioteer, Jha operates behind the scenes, collaborating with BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan in strategy sessions that more closely resemble war rooms than ordinary meetings.

He played a crucial role in securing victory for BJP candidate Maithili Thakur, the renowned folk singer from Alinagar in Darbhanga. The late Union minister Arun Jaitley had previously introduced Sanjay Jha to Nitish Kumar, establishing Jha's longstanding comfort with BJP leadership.

Sanjay Jha was equally responsible as BJP leaders like Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan for ensuring vote transfer among NDA allies—BJP, JD(U), Chirag Paswan's LJP (RVP), Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM, and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party. This vote transfer is essential for coalition success in any election.

Sanjay Jha began facilitating media access to the typically reserved Nitish Kumar well before becoming Minister for Information and Public Relations in the Bihar cabinet. I recall one instance when Sanjay Jha, despite suffering from high fever, insisted on accompanying me to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Currently, he serves as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and holds the position of National Working President of the Janata Dal (United) party.

In stark contrast stands Sanjay Yadav, whose very presence suggests the drama and volatility of a battlefield. Known for his combative demeanor and unyielding attitude, Yadav functions as the chief strategist for the RJD, deriving his authority from Lalu Prasad Yadav's legacy. He possesses a certain slick intelligence that captivates, yet carries an arrogance that alienates.

In his position, Yadav has established himself as the gatekeeper to Tejashwi Yadav, the opposition leader and apparent heir to the RJD dynasty. Access to the young leader, once representing hope for many, is strictly controlled, with Sanjay Yadav determining who may approach the scion of the Lalu Yadav legacy. During a campaign in Purnea, Sanjay Yadav refused to answer his phone or facilitate meetings with Tejashwi Yadav. This contrasts sharply with Lalu Prasad Yadav's personality, who maintained open media access, even to critics. Lalu Prasad was open, democratic, playful, and highly entertaining.

Sanjay Yadav's strategic approach resulted in a disappointing outcome of 25 seats for the RJD and 35 for the Mahagathbandhan overall.

The consequences of Sanjay Yadav's strategies in the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections have been severe.

Under his guidance, the Mahagathbandhan's performance declined dramatically, securing only 35 seats (with the RJD winning just 25, its lowest ever)—a stark contrast to Sanjay Jha's well-orchestrated successes.

While Sanjay Jha's tactical expertise propels the NDA forward, Yadav's approach appears to have created fractures within his own camp, resulting in a significant rift within the Lalu Prasad Yadav family.

Tejashwi's relationship with his elder brother, Tej Pratap, has deteriorated into open hostility, further complicating the already turbulent dynamics of RJD politics. The heartfelt statement from Rohini Acharya, Tejashwi's sister, highlights the personal toll that Sanjay Yadav's maneuvering has taken on the family.

In an emotional social media post, she reveals the family discord, illustrating the tragedy that unfolds when political ambitions overshadow family bonds.

Sanjay Yadav's harsh negotiating style with Mahagathbandhan allies like Congress, Mukesh Saini's VIP, and Left parties led to multiple friendly contests among alliance partners, poor vote transfer among Mahagathbandhan members, and most damagingly, an insensitive refusal to accommodate Asaduddin Owaisi's modest request for six seats in Seemanchal, which proved disastrous for the opposition alliance.

Tejashwi Yadav's claim that he, as a 37-year-old leader, was fighting against 36 helicopters deployed by the BJP-led NDA created the misleading impression that none of the Mahagathbandhan allies were campaigning alongside him in a united effort.

In a paradoxical turn of events, instead of generating sympathy for Tejashwi, voters felt compassion for the incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

In their contrasting roles, the two Sanjays illuminate the complexities of loyalty, ambition, and betrayal. Sanjay Jha represents a voice of reason in a party navigating both its historical context (primarily representing OBC-EBC communities) and the expectations of an aspirational new generation. His measured approach contrasts sharply with Sanjay Yadav's aggressive tactics which, while intended to consolidate power, threaten to undermine the very foundation of the RJD's legacy.

Arrogance proves self-destructive in democratic politics, while soft-spoken subtlety offers a formula for success.

As the election concludes, the shadows of the Mahabharata loom large over this contemporary political battlefield. Just as Sanjaya chronicled the epic narrative of the Kurukshetra war for the blind king Dhritarashtra, both Sanjay Jha and Sanjay Yadav now craft their own versions of this electoral saga.

Each victory and setback will be closely observed, resonating through history as a testament to their divergent philosophies and the ongoing struggle for dominance.

In this tale of two Sanjays, Bihar stands at the threshold of transformation, wrestling with its identities, allegiances, and the pursuit of a meaningful future amid echoes of its storied past.

With the elections concluded, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the NDA and a humiliating defeat for the Mahagathbandhan, only time will reveal who will emerge triumphant from the ashes of this modern Kurukshetra, reshaping Bihar's political landscape for years to come.