By Admin 
With the announcement of the dates of Bihar assembly elections, a direct contest has been decided between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition ‘India’ alliance in the state. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress -led ‘India’ alliance is pushing for a return to power this time.
The biggest strength of RJD is its Muslim-Yadav equation, which is about 30 percent of the total voters of the state. This traditional vote bank has been standing with the party for decades and has proved its backbone in every election.
After Lalu Prasad Yadav withdrew from active politics, RJD has entrusted the responsibility of leadership to his son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.
Tejashwi has made his own identity among the youth by keeping issues like employment, migration and social justice at the center. He has emerged as the face of politics of hope in the new generation of the state. For the Congress, Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ has brought new energy to the organization. This campaign has activated the workers up to the lower level, the effect of which is visible on the enthusiasm of the entire ‘India’ alliance.
However, RJD, the largest party of the coalition, is still considered to be a family-controlled. The party has been criticized for Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav and his family about the focused leadership style.
Investigation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in cases related to the ‘Land Real Job’ scam has also affected the image of the party.
Bihar Elections 2025: All eyes on these 24 seats of Bihar, RJD, JDU, BJP and Congress’s reputation at stake
RJD benefits this decision?
The leadership of Tejashwi Yadav has been approved by the workers, but the controversial statement and political conduct of his brother Tej Pratap Yadav and other family members has challenged the solidarity of the party many times.
This has also affected the strategic direction of the alliance. Under the leadership of Tejashwi, the ‘India’ alliance has an opportunity to change image. His constant voice on issues like unemployment, law and migration has made a notion in the public that he is a leader who understands the real issues of the youth.
RJD can also get the political benefit of caste survey conducted in the state two years ago. Although the NDA government takes credit for the survey, RJD was a partner in power at that time.
After the survey, RJD can redeem the increase in reservation for backward and disadvantaged sections by linking it with the agenda of its ‘Mandal Politics’.
What are the challenges in front of India?
With an alliance with Congress, Left parties and other equal ideology organizations and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar returning to the NDA, a large part of the Muslim vote bank can unite in favor of the ‘India’ alliance. Nevertheless, the challenges in front of the alliance are not less.
RJD-Congress coalition is a big challenge to maintain harmony among ambitious leaders due to being out of power for a long time. Possible differences over seat sharing and leadership balance can create dissatisfaction before the election.
Political analysts believe that while the NDA is going among the public in the name of ‘development and stable governance’, the India alliance is relying on the agenda of ‘social justice, employment and equality’.
Ethnic balance in electoral equations and the role of young voters is considered decisive this time.