INDIA Bloc Begins Strategic Planning for Bihar Elections, Emphasizes BJP as Prime Target
Patna | July 13, 2025 —With the Bihar Assembly elections drawing closer, the opposition INDIA bloc has accelerated its preparations by conducting a strategic meeting in Patna on Saturday, hosted at the official residence of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav. The closed-door session, which lasted over six hours, brought together senior representatives from all major alliance parties, including the Congress, Left parties, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).
The focus of the meeting extended beyond basic electoral coordination. According to sources present, Tejashwi Yadav advised alliance partners to streamline their messaging by concentrating criticism on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, while maintaining a respectful and restrained tone toward Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Seat-Sharing and Campaign Planning on Agenda
The meeting marked the latest round of internal discussions on key electoral matters such as seat-sharing, joint manifesto drafting, and coordinated campaign strategies. Senior alliance members emphasized that this phase is critical for strengthening grassroots-level cohesion, especially in the wake of intensified political activity across the state.
Tejashwi Yadav, who heads the INDIA bloc's coordination committee comprising representatives from six alliance parties, reportedly instructed members to avoid aggressive rhetoric against Nitish Kumar. The rationale behind this approach stems from a strategic evaluation of Bihar’s voter demographics.
EBC Dynamics Influencing Strategy
One of the key considerations for INDIA bloc strategists is the Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) vote bank, which constitutes over 36% of Bihar’s population. Nitish Kumar is still seen by many as a symbolic leader of the EBC community. A confrontational campaign against him, according to alliance calculations, may alienate this crucial electorate segment.
In addition, with growing concerns about the Chief Minister’s health condition and his subdued public appearances in recent months, INDIA bloc leadership concluded that political energy would be better spent highlighting the BJP's perceived failures and inconsistencies, rather than directly confronting Nitish Kumar.
Mukesh Sahani Eyes Deputy CM Role
VIP president Mukesh Sahani confirmed that discussions during the meeting were detailed and constructive. He hinted at active preparations across multiple constituencies even as final seat-sharing arrangements remain pending. Sahani also made a strong case for the Deputy Chief Minister position, citing his EBC representation and commitment to the alliance’s shared goals.
He reiterated that the INDIA bloc was unified on its chief ministerial face, with Tejashwi Yadav emerging as the uncontested leader for the top post, should the alliance form the government.
JD(U) Fires Back with Leadership Jibe
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) — the primary ally of BJP in the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government — issued a counter-narrative. Party spokesperson Anjum Ara alleged that the INDIA bloc is suffering from internal contradictions, leadership ambiguity, and unresolved demands among alliance partners.
JD(U) leaders questioned the alliance’s cohesion, pointing to perceived friction between the Congress, Left parties, and VIP over ticket allocations and campaign direction. However, INDIA bloc insiders dismissed these claims as political posturing by a nervous ruling coalition sensing rising public discontent.
Building Toward a Broader Electoral Vision
Despite the ruling party's criticism, INDIA bloc leaders appear committed to a coordinated, issue-based campaign that resonates with Bihar’s youth, unemployed workforce, women, and rural voters. Policy proposals including a youth commission, women’s stipend program, and pension expansion are expected to be key themes in the alliance's campaign messaging.
The coalition also plans to roll out state-wide rallies, public outreach drives, and targeted digital campaigns to maximize voter engagement ahead of the formal announcement of the election schedule.
Our Final Thoughts
As Bihar gears up for a closely-watched assembly election, the INDIA bloc seems to be refining its strategy with a mix of assertive planning and nuanced positioning. By tactically shifting its attack narrative from Nitish Kumar to BJP leaders, the alliance aims to retain the goodwill of large voter segments while pressing its core message of political change. Whether this calibrated approach translates into electoral success will depend on how effectively the bloc resolves internal negotiations and connects with Bihar’s electorate in the coming weeks.