As Bihar stands on the cusp of one of its most closely watched assembly elections, political battle lines have been drawn sharply between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc. With voting scheduled for November 6 and 11 across 243 constituencies, the campaign has intensified into a war of narratives—between claims of two decades of stability and development under the “double-engine government” of Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, and promises of a new Bihar rooted in jobs, empowerment, and accountability under Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Addressing virtual rallies in Samastipur and Gopalganj, Union Home Minister Amit Shah invoked mythological symbolism to rally support, likening the NDA allies to the five Pandavas united in a righteous battle. “For 20 years, Nitish babu, and since 11 years with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have left no stone unturned for Bihar’s development,” Shah declared, contrasting the NDA’s “Pandava-like unity” with what he described as the “Mahathugbandhan”—a cauldron of infighting and chaos. The Mahagathbandhan, or INDIA bloc, comprises the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, which Shah alleged were plagued by internal discord and opportunistic alliances. He urged voters to reject the “15-year jungle raj” of the opposition in favor of what he called the NDA’s proven record of governance.

The NDA’s campaign, which has had to adapt to heavy rains that grounded helicopters and disrupted schedules, is anchored in the party’s “Sankalp Patra,” or manifesto. Shah reiterated a string of welfare promises, including ₹2 lakh assistance for Jeevika women’s self-help groups—building on the recent ₹10,000 transfer to 1.41 crore beneficiaries—and an increase in annual farmer support under the PM-Kisan scheme from ₹6,000 to ₹9,000. He also pledged to reopen all defunct sugar mills within five years and establish ethanol, dairy, and rice plants across districts. Infrastructure projects, including the ₹2,200 crore Dumaria Ghat–Patna expressway, the ₹340 crore Hathua LPG plant, and the launch of flight services at Sabeya airport, were presented as evidence of the NDA’s focus on a “developed Bihar.” Shah also promised to complete the ₹85 crore Punaura Dham project in Sitamarhi—the birthplace of Goddess Sita—within two years, tying development to cultural pride.

In Gopalganj, the birthplace of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, Shah’s tone grew sharper. Recalling the 1990s “jungle raj,” he referenced notorious episodes such as the 1999 car showroom raid during Misa Bharti’s wedding and the Shilpi Jain murder case. He cautioned voters that a return of the RJD would revive lawlessness and anarchy. “The people of Gopalganj haven’t voted for the RJD since 2002; keep that trend alive,” he said. To bolster his argument, Shah cited past massacres and feudal clashes as reminders of the instability that Bihar had once endured.

BJP president JP Nadda amplified the attack from Siwan, branding the RJD’s nomination of the late Mohammad Shahabuddin’s son as proof that the opposition sought to revive Bihar’s violent past. “RJD stands for Rangdari, Jungle Raj, and Dadagiri,” Nadda said, warning voters against “bail-jumpers like Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi, and Misa.” LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, meanwhile, unveiled the NDA’s development blueprint in Maner, promising district-wise industries, a skills census, and mega training centers to transform Bihar into a “global skill hub.” He mocked Tejashwi Yadav’s pledge of one government job per household as an uncalculated fantasy, insisting that the people’s resolve would return the NDA to power. Prime Minister Modi, echoing the sentiment on social media, lauded the manifesto as a vision for a “self-reliant Bihar.”

On the opposition side, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra injected renewed energy into the INDIA bloc’s campaign with a fiery rally in Begusarai. Slamming the NDA’s manifesto as “fake propaganda” detached from ground realities, she accused the BJP and JD(U) of betraying the state’s youth and women over the past decade. “BJP leaders drone on about the past or future, ignoring the present miseries of Bihar’s people,” she said. Vadra challenged the feasibility of the NDA’s promise to create 1.5 crore jobs, pointing out that previous targets had gone unmet. Braving drizzles after a last-minute road journey from Patna—her helicopter grounded by cyclonic weather—Vadra addressed a packed crowd, portraying Bihar as a state “pushed into poverty, unemployment, and migration” under NDA rule. She urged voters not to fall for “hollow promises” and instead to choose a government committed to social justice, women’s empowerment, and employment generation.

Invoking Bihar’s proud history, Vadra said, “This land of yours is sacred—it walks alongside Mother Ganga. From this very land, Gandhiji started his movement against the British. This country has given great leaders, patriots, and poets, yet its development isn’t happening properly.” She framed the freedom struggle as a fight for the Constitution, which bestowed “freedom, development, and the greatest right—the right to vote.” Her emphasis on constitutional values sought to position the INDIA bloc as defenders of democratic rights and inclusive progress.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc’s chief ministerial face, has emerged as its most energetic campaigner. Rallying in Siwan and Raghopur, he accused the NDA government of a complete collapse in law and order and rampant corruption. Highlighting the October 30 murder of opposition leader Dularchand Yadav in Mokama, he alleged that JD(U) nominee Anant Singh, accused in the case, continued to campaign freely. “Murders in broad daylight, cash handouts of ₹10,000 per voter—where is the Election Commission? Their law only applies to the opposition,” he thundered. Yadav pledged that, if elected, his government would provide one job per household within 20 months, promising to restore education, health, and industry to curb migration. “I’m young, but true to my word,” he said, portraying himself as the face of a new, forward-looking Bihar.

Tejashwi’s campaign in Raghopur was also marked by a display of family unity, as his sisters Ragini and Rohini Acharya joined him on stage, appealing for caste harmony and an end to corruption. The show of solidarity sought to silence speculation of internal rifts within the Yadav family. At another virtual rally in Goriakothi, Tejashwi promised industrial growth and urban development, pledging to replace the NDA’s “stagnant model” with an employment-driven one.

Adding weight to the INDIA bloc’s campaign, Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav delivered a scathing critique of the BJP during a rally in Darbhanga. Supporting RJD candidate Bhola Yadav, Akhilesh described Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a “poll groom” who “knows he won’t be garlanded this time.” He accused the BJP of political opportunism, calling it an “exploitative party” that “uses people and then ruins them.” Framing the election as a contest between “employment and BJP,” Akhilesh said, “On one hand, people are carrying baskets on their heads looking for work, while on the other, Tejashwi Yadav has promised them dignified jobs.” Predicting a BJP defeat, he added, “Those who talk about migration should first answer why people are forced to leave Bihar. It is because of the BJP’s policies. But this time, the people of Bihar will ensure the BJP itself migrates out of the state.”

Meanwhile, in Shahpur, Bhojpuri actor and BJP campaigner Pawan Singh drew large crowds with his trademark flair. “We must not let jungle raj return—under Modi-Nitish’s double engine, development flows like a river,” he said, urging voters to back the lotus symbol for continued progress. Evoking Bihari pride, Singh contrasted the hardships of the past “bicycle era” with today’s “four-wheeler Bihar,” promising prosperity through NDA’s governance.

As heavy rains and cyclonic winds continue to hamper campaign logistics, both alliances have increasingly relied on virtual rallies and local surrogates. Yet, amid the technological pivots and rhetorical duels, the core issues remain unaltered—jobs, migration, women’s empowerment, and law and order. The NDA projects continuity and stability, while the INDIA bloc bets on change and youth-driven optimism. As Bihar’s electorate, long scarred by political volatility and economic stagnation, prepares to cast its vote, the stakes extend far beyond Patna. The outcome, to be declared on November 14, could reshape the state’s political landscape and signal the direction of India’s opposition unity in the years to come.