7 days before Bihar votes in 1st phase: Nitish vs Tejashwi vs PK, who’s promising what

Battleground Bihar is ready for a three-way fight between old players and a new one who will debut in active politics in his maiden state election. Fighting to clinch the assembly in Bihar are the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the opposition INDIA bloc and political strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party.

The first phase of voting will begin on November 6, with NDA’s Nitish Kumar, the current chief minister of the state, hoping to beat the 20-year anti-incumbency for another record term in office, and Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc’s choice for CM, looking to cash in on the same anti-incumbency against the ruling coalition. Amid a direct face-off between the BJP and JDU-led NDA and INDIA bloc, which Congress is also a part of, Jan Suraaj is eyeing to emerge as a fresh face in Bihar’s caste-ridden politics.

The first phase of Bihar’s assembly election sets the stage for a fight among the state’s political heavyweights who are making their final appeals to voters in what promises to be one of the most closely watched contests of 2025.

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Numbers that matter

Bihar’s 243 constituencies will go to the polls in two phases — 121 seats on November 6 and the remaining 122 on November 11. Votes will be counted on November 14, with results expected to begin coming in by the afternoon.

This election will see participation from 7.43 crore voters, including 14 lakh first-time voters, who will choose between three distinct political visions for the state’s future. The NDA currently holds 131 seats, while the Grand Alliance has 111 in the outgoing assembly.

In the seat-sharing arrangements, the BJP and JD(U) are each contesting 101 seats, while the RJD has fielded the largest number of candidates within the opposition alliance. The ultimate outcome will hinge on how voters respond to these competing political narratives.

What Nitish Kumar’s NDA is banking on: Experience and incremental progress

Nitish Kumar is relying on his developmental record as the foundation of his campaign, with the NDA promising continuity alongside expanded welfare measures. The alliance has pledged to create 10 million job opportunities for youth over the next five years, building on earlier employment-generation efforts. It also promises 125 units of free electricity for households, extending power subsidies to 1.67 crore families, and enhanced pension schemes offering Rs 1,100–Rs3,000 per month for the elderly, women, and persons with disabilities.

The manifesto further outlines solar power projects for the poorest families and new educational infrastructure for OBC students. Along with these welfare and social measures, the NDA has placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure expansion, both in Patna and across the rest of Bihar.

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What Tejashwi Yadav is offering to woo voters: Populist transformation

Led by Tejashwi Yadav, the Grand Alliance has announced what it calls the most ambitious welfare package of this election. At the heart of its promises is the pledge to provide one government job per family, with legislation to be passed within 20 days of taking power and recruitment completed within 20 months. The alliance also promises 200 units of free electricity for every household, going beyond the NDA’s offer, along with a Rs 2,500 monthly allowance for women. Additionally, Jeevika Didis would be granted permanent government status with a salary of Rs 30,000.

The Grand Alliance’s welfare commitments extend further to the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees, free health insurance coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh for families, and subsidized gas cylinders to ease household expenses. These measures, the alliance says, are aimed at strengthening social security and providing relief to lower- and middle-income families across Bihar.

On the development front, the coalition has promised to build five new expressways and attract large-scale industrial investments to generate employment and modernize infrastructure. It has also proposed a review of the state’s liquor prohibition policy, arguing that a recalibrated approach could help restore traditional livelihoods and support local economies.

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj promises economic reforms no one talks about in Bihar

Prashant Kishor has outlined a fundamentally different vision for Bihar, centered on economic revival and governance reform. He proposes a complete lifting of the state’s liquor prohibition, arguing that doing so could recover nearly Rs 28,000 crore in annual revenue. The regained funds, he says, would serve as leverage to unlock Rs 5–6 lakh crore in international development loans, providing the financial base for large-scale modernization and infrastructure initiatives.

Kishor’s plan also emphasizes modern governance reforms, with a strong focus on transparency and anti-corruption measures. Instead of blanket bans, he advocates for responsible regulation across sectors, aiming to balance growth with accountability. His approach departs from traditional populist welfare schemes, prioritizing systemic and institutional change as the path toward long-term development.