BIHAR ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2025: LAST BATTLE OF NITISH KUMAR’S POLITICAL BATTLEFIELD

BIHAR ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2025: LAST BATTLE OF NITISH KUMAR’S POLITICAL BATTLEFIELD

21-JULY-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------The political journey of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, known as 'Paltu Ram' in Bihar politics and awarded the title of 'Sushasan Babu', is now standing at a decisive turn. The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, which is being called the 'last battle' of his political career in political circles, is not just a fight to save power for Nitish, but a litmus test of his political legacy and his image among the people of Bihar.

Nitish Kumar, who once raised the flag of good governance against Lalu Yadav's Jungle Raj, has changed his political path many times in the last few decades. From 'friendship' to 'enmity' with BJP and then 'yaari' and 'gaddaari' with RJD, his every step has surprised political pundits. The 2025 election is also important for him because he no longer has the tag of 'young leadership', and along with experience, the image of 'power obsession' has also dominated him. Will the people of Bihar put an end to his 'U-turn' politics this time, or will they once again prefer to trust his experience and calm nature?

This time JDU's path does not seem easy. There is also a buzz within the party about who will take over the leadership after Nitish Kumar. The exit of some leaders like RCP Singh and Upendra Kushwaha taking a different path shows that all is not well in the party. On the other hand, both the BJP and RJD alliances are preparing to break Nitish Kumar's fort with full force this time. BJP is trying to unite Hindu votes with the help of 'Modi wave' and Ram temple, while RJD is presenting Tejashwi Yadav as a 'young option' by strengthening its traditional MY equation.

Tejashwi Yadav is constantly trying to make his mark among the people. His slogans like 'Jobs for All' and 'Remove Unemployment' are attracting the youth. At the same time, BJP has also changed its strategy. They are now focusing not only on central issues, but also on local issues and caste equations of Bihar. It is a big challenge for BJP to get absolute majority in Bihar without Nitish Kumar, but they do not want to leave any stone unturned this time.

Nitish Kumar is known for his political acumen. Will he play a new 'masterstroke' in the 2025 elections? Will he be able to capitalize on his experience and claim of development of Bihar? Or will this election prove to be the 'last battle' of his political life, after which Bihar politics will start a new chapter?

It will be interesting to see whether Nitish Kumar will be able to save his legacy at this decisive juncture of Bihar politics, or the aspirations of the changing Bihar will push him towards new leadership. The people of Bihar have always given surprising decisions, and the 2025 election will also be no exception.