Youth challenge before BJP-Nitish in Bihar
As the Bihar assembly elections of 2025 are approaching, the alliance of BJP and Nitish Kumar seems to be getting unprecedented challenges from two young, dynamic leaders: Tejashwi Yadav and Prashant Kishore.
The BJP and JDU pair have long been dependent on the credibility of caste arithmetic and Nitish’s rule. Now the pair is facing a changing landscape, where its dominance is threatened by young attraction and personal popularity.
35 -year -old Tejashwi’s focus is on employment. According to the recent survey, 45 percent of the voters consider unemployment to be a big issue, which is deeply connected to the youth of Bihar. In 2020, he promised 10 lakh jobs and almost beaten the NDA. And today, in a survey, 41 percent of the people as Chief Minister have described Tejashwi as the first choice, while only 18 percent people want Nitish Kumar to become the Chief Minister again.
With the caste heritage of Lalu Yadav and modern, practical approach, Tejashwi Yadav has prepared a coalition of Muslim, Yadav and ambitious young voters, which has posed a threat to the BJP-JDU vote bank.
Strategist -turned -politician Prashant Kishore can bring a different challenge. His Jan Suraj Party launched on 28 August 2023 is targeting the disappointed middle class of Bihar and EBC with Governance-first agenda.
The appeal of a 47 -year -old teenager has been strengthened by Nitish’s criticism of “bureaucracy Jungle Raj” and abolition of prohibition. He is the choice of 15 percent people as Chief Minister. His 3,000-km padyatra and caste-sustainable ticket strategy are different from traditional politics and attracting urban professionals and reform seekers.
The BJP-Nitish pair, who rely on the Organizational Power and EBC-Kurmi basis, is now facing a tough challenge.
Between Nitish’s fatigue and silent Hindutva, in 2025, there may be a generational change or fragmented mandate in Bihar. Where young enthusiasm and experience will be face to face.
(Sayantan Ghosh is a research scholar and teaches journalism at St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata. On social media plate form x you can join them through @Sayantan_GH.
