Bihar Polls: NDA Unity Under Strain as Speculation Runs Riot
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Union Minister Chirag Paswan in Patna. (Image JDU Online)
With PM Modi, Nitish Kumar, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi set to hit the campaign trail post-Chhath, political circles in Patna buzz over whether the BJP may push for new leadership in Bihar after the polls.
By AMIT KUMAR
Patna, October 28, 2025 — With the conclusion of the Chhath festival, the Bihar Assembly election campaign is set to heat up as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gear up for back-to-back rallies.
Yet, beneath the surface of this high-octane campaign lies an undercurrent of political tension within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The spotlight has turned to Nitish Kumar’s future as Chief Minister, with murmurs suggesting the BJP may be considering a change in leadership post-election.
Political observers note that Nitish’s recent visit to Chirag Paswan’s residence for Kharna Prasad was intended as a show of unity within the NDA camp. However, chants at Paswan’s rallies—declaring him the “next Chief Minister of Bihar”—have only deepened speculation.
A statement by Home Minister Amit Shah, hinting that the “next Chief Minister will be chosen by NDA legislators after the election,” has added fuel to the fire. Analysts view this as a subtle signal that BJP may keep its options open depending on the poll outcome.
Currently, the BJP and JDU are contesting on 101 seats each, while Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is fielding candidates on 29 seats. If the BJP performs as strongly as it did in Maharashtra, and if LJP and smaller allies like Upendra Kushwaha’s RLSP and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM secure a few seats, post-poll arithmetic could allow the BJP to assert dominance within the NDA.
Some political theorists suggest a post-election scenario where the BJP may push for a younger, Dalit face—possibly Chirag Paswan—to lead Bihar. However, others caution that such a move could prove politically suicidal. Nitish Kumar, they argue, remains a master strategist and a veteran of Bihar’s caste-driven politics, having empowered Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs) and women beneficiaries over two decades in power.
With RJD expected to retain a strong base among Muslim-Yadav voters and the Mahagathbandhan likely to stay competitive, any visible rift within the NDA could tip the balance. In 2020, the alliance’s victory margin was razor-thin—barely 11,000 votes separating it from the opposition.
As the battle for Bihar intensifies, one thing is clear: any premature speculation over Nitish Kumar’s future could harm the NDA more than it helps. For now, Bihar’s most seasoned political survivor still holds the key to who ultimately sits in Patna’s chief ministerial chair.
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