Bihar Election 2025: There is an uneasiness in Patna’s Fijas these days. From tea shops to the ridge of the fields, from the queues of buses to whatsapp groups, the same question is echoing – “Who this time?” Voters of Bihar, who have been knowing Nitish Kumar as “Good Governance Babu” for a long time, are now forced to think that he is the same Nitish who emerged as a ray of hope against Lalu-Raj in 2005? Or has he turned into a politician who has repeatedly given a lot of ideological commitments to remain in power? It is not new to take a U-turn in politics, but Nitish Kumar has given it an art status. Today, when the 2025 assembly elections are slowly knocking, this question has become even more relevant, are the people of Bihar now bored with Nitish’s ‘U-Turon Model’? Will they find a new option this time, or will they once again choose Nitish in the name of ‘stability’ and ‘experience’?
From ‘Good Governance Babu’ to ‘political seeker’
When Nitish Kumar took power in Bihar in 2005, he introduced himself as an alternative to Lalu Yadav’s ‘Jungle Raj’. Improvement in law and order, revolution in education, street construction and strictness on corruption-these were the priorities that they started to create a new Bihar. At that time his face had become a symbol of honesty and administrative efficiency. Partners like reservation for women, participation in panchayats, cycle scheme made them a public leader. But in 2013, when he broke his ties with BJP and then joined hands with Lalu Yadav’s party in 2015, his image was seen in his image for the first time. The public did not understand how the leader who stood against Lalu’s Jungle Raj for 10 years, now how can he form the government with him. In 2017, he once again overturned and went with the BJP and remained the Chief Minister till 2020. But every time a new story was added to him – ‘Nitish again turned’.
‘Nitish is tired’, says public
Today, a new jumla is going on in the streets of Bihar, in the chaupals and on social media – “Now Nitish is tired!” This tiredness is not only of age, but of a political face that now raises no hope nor turmoil. The young voters, who probably came to vote for the first time in 2005, have now become a father themselves and they feel that Nitish Kumar changed the political alliance as much as Bihar has progressed in 20 years. This ‘exhaustion factor’ has become Nitish’s biggest challenge. Neither did they now have any new vision, nor any inspirational campaign. ‘Berozagari’, ‘Growing Exodus’, ‘Health Services’ and ‘Dealling Quality of Education’ – all these are still the biggest issues of Bihar. Nitish’s government launched many schemes, but the ground impact did not exist as it was expected.
Alliance rate coalition: Question on credibility
Nitish Kumar has changed the alliance at least six times in his long political career. Sometimes with BJP, sometimes with RJD, sometimes Congress, sometimes attempted a third front. Repeated manipulations have caused a deep injury to their credibility by keeping ideologies in mind. People have started questioning now – is there any ideological commitment of Nitish? Has they made themselves completely flexible for power? In 2022, when he once again formed the government with the Grand Alliance and made Tejashwi Yadav the Deputy Chief Minister, it was announced that Tejashwi would be prepared by 2025. But the public knows when Nitish thinks, cannot be said. This uncertainty has weakened the trust of the voter.
Which option in 2025?
While the BJP in Bihar is aggressively making Nitish’s ‘reversal politics’ an issue, Tejashwi Yadav is trying to prove himself the leader of the new era. Their unemployment journey, trying to add youth and strong grip between backward Muslims are raising them as a strong option. Although there is still a shadow of ‘Familyism’ and the RJD’s old image on Tejashwi, he is young, energetic and ‘fresh face’ compared to Nitish. At the same time, some new forces such as Pappu Yadav, Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha are also trying to change the equation, but the public is now looking towards the durability as well as trust. That is why the election of 2025 is going to be a battle of trust, not just seats.
Public mood: Call for change?
The public is slowly beginning to realize that now Bihar does not only need politics with ‘jugaad’, but a stable and clear vision leadership. Nitish Kumar gave all this at one time, but now that round has probably passed. His age, political hesitation and constantly changing stance have confused the voter. People are now looking at a leader who can present a blueprint for the next 10 years. Apart from this, the young voters of Bihar are now associated with social media, are aware of national issues and aspire to take Bihar out of the ‘Bimaru’ tag. This new voter is now preparing to vote on the performance by moving beyond caste and alliance.
Will Nitish return for the last time?
Nothing is impossible in politics. Nitish Kumar is still a skilled strategist and will forget to underestimate weakly. But now they have a vision of intensive investigation, not the same sympathy. The election of 2025 is like ‘do or die’ for them – either he will prove himself once again or will be sunset by their politics. This time the public will choose not only with promises, but also with intention and policy. Nitish’s politics has given many turns to Bihar, but now perhaps the voters themselves are in a mood to take a new turn.
