Amid reports of internal friction within the INDIA bloc ahead of the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and chief ministerial face of the Opposition alliance, Tejashwi Yadav, has assured that all alliance partners remain united in their mission to unseat the two-decade-old National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state. In an interview Tejashwi Yadav dismissed suggestions of discord and described the ongoing seat-level contests among partners as “friendly fights,” common in coalition politics. The Mahagathbandhan, comprising RJD, Congress, and Left parties, is gearing up for a high-stakes election where Tejashwi Yadav could become Bihar’s youngest chief minister if the alliance comes to power.
INDIA Bloc Navigates Internal Rifts Amid ‘Friendly Fights’
The run-up to the Bihar assembly election has seen moments of unease within the INDIA bloc as reports emerged of overlapping candidates fielded by alliance partners in several constituencies. At least 11 assembly seats are set to witness “friendly fights” between members of the same coalition — notably between the Congress, RJD, and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Despite these overlaps, Tejashwi Yadav, who leads the alliance in Bihar, has played down the tensions, asserting that coalition partners are working together with a shared vision of defeating the NDA and restoring what he describes as “real governance.”
“The friendly contests that people are talking about have happened before, not just in Bihar but also in Jharkhand and other states. It is part of coalition politics,” Tejashwi Yadav said. He emphasizedthat such overlaps do not signify division but reflect the complexity of multi-party alliances striving to balance regional and ideological strengths. “We are resolving certain tricky issues, and things are taking shape. All allies are united in this election. There is no friction,” he added.
The INDIA bloc’s seat-sharing arrangement was finalized after several rounds of negotiations, with the RJD contesting the largest share of 143 out of 243 assembly seats. The Congress has announced 60 candidates, while the CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML) Liberation have fielded 9, 4, and 20 candidates respectively. The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) has put forward 15 nominees. While this distribution sought to maintain balance, ground-level dynamics have led to friendly face-offs in multiple constituencies.
For instance, in Narkatiaganj, the Congress’s Shashwat Kedar Pandey will face RJD’s Deepak Yadav, while in Vaishali, Congress candidate Sanjeev Singh will compete against RJD’s Ajay Kushwaha. Similar overlaps exist in Lalganj, Tarapur, Kahalgaon, and other constituencies. Despite these contests, Tejashwi Yadav’s assertion of unity reflects a calculated attempt to project harmony and collective strength, even as local-level negotiations continue.
The announcement of Tejashwi Yadav as the Opposition’s chief ministerial candidate came after Congress troubleshooter Ashok Gehlot intervened to ease tensions among alliance partners. Gehlot’s visit to Patna helped solidify consensus within the bloc, ultimately allowing Tejashwi Yadav to emerge as the unanimous choice to lead the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign. At 35, Tejashwi Yadav’s rise symbolizes generational change and a renewed effort to reframe Bihar’s political narrative around youth, governance, and development.
Tejashwi’s Attack on NDA and His Vision for Bihar
In the interview, Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the ruling NDA government, describing it as an incompetent and corrupt administration that has failed to deliver meaningful progress over the past two decades. “The so-called double-engine government is, in reality, a symbol of corruption and crime. One engine represents corruption, and the other represents lawlessness,” he remarked. His comments reflect the Opposition’s attempt to challenge the NDA’s narrative of development and expose what it perceives as systemic decay under long-standing governance.
Tejashwi Yadav’s political messaging has been consistent — focusing on job creation, education, healthcare, and social justice, issues that resonate strongly with Bihar’s younger voters. His repeated emphasis on employment opportunities, especially in the public sector, has been central to his appeal among the state’s youth, who make up a large portion of the electorate. He has also sought to portray himself as a pragmatic leader capable of delivering on promises that the NDA has allegedly failed to fulfill.
The NDA, meanwhile, has sought to exploit reports of disunity within the INDIA bloc to strengthen its own position. Senior BJP leader and deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary accused Tejashwi Yadav of being an “imposed” candidate, claiming that his nomination as the CM face was dictated by his father, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. “Tejashwi Yadav, a proclaimed offender, has been named the CM candidate under pressure from Lalu Prasad, who coerced alliance partners to accept his son’s leadership,” Choudhary said, referring to Tejashwi Yadav’s alleged involvement in the land-for-jobs scam linked to the UPA-I government era when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister.
The BJP’s criticism seeks to revive old corruption charges against the RJD leadership, a narrative the NDA has often used to counter the Opposition’s attack on its governance record. Tejashwi, however, has brushed off such allegations, pointing out that the cases date back to a time when he was a minor. “These are politically motivated attempts to malign me and divert attention from the real issues,” he said.
Tejashwi Yadav has also sought to exploit apparent discontent within the NDA ranks, particularly between the BJP and its ally, the Janata Dal (United). “Union home minister Amit Shah has already made it clear that BJP legislators will decide the chief minister after the elections. This shows the BJP’s reluctance to give Nitish Kumar another chance,” he claimed. His remarks aim to highlight the perceived instability within the NDA and position the INDIA bloc as a cohesive and credible alternative.
“The JD(U) is no longer the party it used to be. It is now controlled by a handful of leaders more loyal to the BJP than to Nitish Kumar. After this election, the JD(U) will cease to exist as a major force,” Tejashwi Yadav added, signaling his confidence in the Mahagathbandhan’s chances.
As the election campaign intensifies, Tejashwi Yadav has been at the forefront of the Opposition’s outreach, blending aggressive criticism of the government with a promise of transformative governance. His campaign has prominently featured themes of youth empowerment, public employment, and economic revival. The RJD leader has also sought to bridge caste divides by positioning himself as a unifying figure capable of appealing across social lines.
The NDA, on the other hand, continues to bank on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and the narrative of infrastructure-led growth. However, the opposition alliance’s strategy to project a youthful, energetic leadership in Tejashwi Yadav — coupled with dissatisfaction among sections of voters over unemployment and migration — could make the 2025 election one of Bihar’s most closely contested in recent history.
While internal coordination remains a challenge for the INDIA bloc, Tejashwi Yadav’s public messaging underscores his attempt to maintain discipline within the ranks and project an image of collective strength. His ability to sustain this unity and convert it into electoral success will determine whether Bihar witnesses the emergence of a new political chapter under his leadership.
