As the Mahagathbandhan unveiled its manifesto for the Bihar Assembly elections a few days ago, the alliance placed prime emphasis on a face-driven campaign, naming the document after its chief ministerial candidate, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Titled “Tejashwi Pran” meaning Tejashwi’s solemn pledge for Bihar, the manifesto underscores the leadership-centric nature of the opposition camp’s campaign.
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As Bihar heads into a crucial election,Tejashwi Yadav is wooing the restless youth with promises of employment, while the ruling NDA banks on Nitish Kumar's loyal base of women voters to see him… pic.twitter.com/8sfvwyLt9t
This development also carries significance as Congress’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, soon after the release of the manifesto, took a swipe at the NDA’s leadership vacuum, remarking that the ruling alliance lacks both direction and a leader. “The real question is, our opponents have neither a leader nor a plan. They only engage in negative and destructive talk,” Allavaru said.
He also lauded the Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto, calling it people-focused and solution-oriented. “I’ve been saying from the beginning that the Mahagathbandhan wants to fight this election by focusing on the issues that matter to the people of Bihar. Our approach is centred around solutions to those issues and those solutions form our manifesto, our agenda, and our vision for the people. Tejashwi ji also keeps emphasising that we not only have a plan to make Bihar better, but we also have a capable team to implement it,” he told reporters.
This marks a departure from previous elections, where the NDA’s face in Bihar was Nitish Kumar, notably in 2010 and 2020, when the BJP and JDU contested together under his leadership.
A political analyst observed, “It shows that the Mahagathbandhan has entered the most crucial phase of the campaign by projecting Tejashwi as a credible and trustworthy leader. By telling people that the promises are solely his, the alliance gives voters a clear focal point and sense of reliance. It also reflects the opposition’s belief that a leadership-centric plank can help them clinch victory - especially since, for the first time, the NDA has not declared its chief ministerial face in Bihar.”
He added, “The RJD-led Mahagathbandhan suffered a narrow defeat in 2020, the overall vote difference with the NDA was less than 12,000. That was a heartbreak for Tejashwi, as the entire campaign revolved around him. This time, the alliance appears determined to renew that energy and rally behind his image to come back stronger.”
The Mahagathbandhan has announced two of its faces already, Tejashwi Yadav as it's chief minister and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni as the deputy chief minister from the alliance. The NDA, however, will be contesting the way they fought Maharashtra assembly elections, without any face.
A national Congress spokesperson said, "In Maharashtra they put aside Eknath Shinde after the elections whom they had backed throughout his temporary stint as a CM and same is going to happen to Nitish Kumar after the elections. It is certain that there will be a chief minister from the BJP and not the JDU this time if they come to power. Moreover, the opposition alliance is more active this time because they know there have been elections where the ruling parties have won through vote theft. We won't allow that this time."
