In the critical run-up to the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has intensified its campaign efforts across the state of Bihar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have mounted sharp attacks on the rival Indian National Congress–Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led opposition alliance, while promising a broad development agenda and vowing to deliver governance and jobs.
The campaign rhetoric by Modi and Shah has been dominated by themes of development, law and order, and a rejection of what they portray as the past era of mis-governance under the opposition. At a rally in Sitamarhi, Modi asserted that Bihar “needs startups, not ‘hands up’,” a reference to the “katta” (pistol) and “jungle raj” narratives the BJP is using to characterise the opposition alliance’s alleged legacy.
A pivotal moment in the campaign came with the record-breaking voter turnout in the first phase of polling, recorded at around 65 per cent. Modi described this as a “65-volt jhatka” (shock) to his opponents, interpreting it as a clear sign of rising trust in the NDA.
Meanwhile, Amit Shah addressed rallies in Jhajha, Pirpainti and other districts — outlining ambitious industrial and infrastructure plans for Bihar. He pledged to set up an electric-vehicle factory, a pharmaceutical park and an ordnance unit, emphasising job creation for youth and promising that the NDA would secure a two-thirds majority in the assembly.
The opposition alliance hasn’t remained silent. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticised Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for failing to create jobs and reduce migration from Bihar, charging that despite years in power the state still faces major governance issues.
One of the key battlelines is the BJP’s invocation of the “jungle raj” narrative — a term widely used in this campaign to describe the perceived law-and-order breakdown under previous RJD regimes. Analysts suggest this narrative is being deployed deliberately to sway voters concerned about safety and development.
Additionally, electoral integrity has emerged as a theme. The opposition has alleged “vote theft” and manipulation of electoral rolls, while the Election Commission has responded that no malpractice requiring re-poll was found in the first phase.
As the second phase of polling approaches, the campaign dynamics in Bihar are sharpening. The NDA is betting on its dual narrative of development and governance, with Modi and Shah fronting high-profile rallies and bold promises. The Congress–RJD alliance, on the other hand, is seeking to challenge that narrative by highlighting issues of unemployment, migration and alleged misrule. At stake is not just the control of Bihar’s state government but also the broader political symbolism of the region. Whichever way the electorate swings, the campaign in Bihar has become a micro-cosm of wider national contestation around governance, development and democratic expression.
