As Bihar gears up for the 2025 Assembly elections, the political rivalry between the NDA (led by JDU and BJP) and the RJD-led opposition is intensifying. With both sides launching early campaigns, the election narrative is shaping into a familiar yet high-stakes battle: “Jungle Raj” versus “Susashan” (good governance). However, what adds a surprising twist to this political drama is a silent yet powerful player — the revision of the electoral rolls, which could drastically alter the voter landscape in Bihar.

The NDA’s Slogan War: Reviving Old Alliances

Slogans like “Naukri, Rozgar, Kushal Bihar – Fir ek baar NDA sarkar” have resurfaced on posters outside the JDU office in Patna, prominently featuring images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This visual symbolism harks back to a similar campaign moment 15 years ago, when pictures of Modi and Nitish together, in the aftermath of Gujarat's ₹5 crore flood relief to Bihar, led to a political rupture between the two.

But times have changed. Now firmly back in the NDA fold, Nitish Kumar has vowed loyalty to Prime Minister Modi, affirming their alliance from rally stages. The poster is not just campaign rhetoric but a strategic projection — Modi lends national appeal while Nitish remains the face of local governance, countering the RJD’s “jungle raj” allegations.

The Opposition’s Offensive: Tejashwi Yadav’s Confident Push

On the other side, Tejashwi Yadav, the charismatic former Deputy CM and RJD’s chief ministerial face, is on a media blitz — giving interviews, conducting press conferences, and leading yatras across the state.

Tejashwi’s tone is assertive:
“Banenge, kyun nahi banenge?” (Why won’t I become CM?) — he says, underscoring his ambition to reclaim power.

He rejects the “jungle raj” tag often hurled at his party and his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, by asking:
“I was Deputy CM for 18 months — did people stop stepping out of their homes?”

Instead, he pivots the conversation to anti-incumbency, questioning the NDA’s failure on trade, employment, and small business support.
“Why don’t they talk about their governance plan?” he asks. “They’ve been in power for 20 years. Why are they still afraid of us?”

The Poster Politics and Internal Tensions

While the NDA camp projects unity, the opposition is poking holes. Referring to Nitish Kumar’s health and the lack of a clear JDU successor, opposition parties claim the BJP will eventually dominate or even absorb the JDU. The posters with Modi and Nitish, critics argue, are just optics — a last-ditch effort to hold ground in an increasingly competitive landscape.

The Electoral Roll X-Factor: Voter List Revision Sparks Debate

Amid the fiery campaign, a relatively quiet but potentially game-changing development is taking place — the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral roll, conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The RJD claims the revision disproportionately targets their stronghold localities, sparking allegations of political bias. But concern about the roll revision cuts across party lines due to one critical factor: the exclusion of Non-Resident Bihari (NRB) voters.

According to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, about 10% of Bihar’s voters are not ordinary residents, and by law, only residents can vote. This interpretation could effectively disenfranchise lakhs of migrant Biharis, who live outside the state for work but maintain strong ties — and political opinions — back home.

Could Migrant Voter Exclusion Shift the Election Outcome?

Bihar has one of the highest out-migration rates in India. From Delhi and Mumbai to the southern tech hubs, millions of Biharis live and work outside the state. They often return during elections, forming a critical vote bank across parties.

If migrant voters are excluded, it may lead to:

• Reduced voter turnout, especially in opposition-dominated areas

• Potential reshaping of booth-level dynamics, as many strongholds depend on returning NRB voters

• Fresh legal and political battles over the interpretation of “ordinary resident” under election law

Analysts argue this move could indirectly benefit the NDA, which typically performs better in urban and institutional voter bases, whereas RJD’s support has been more rural and migrant-heavy.

CEC’s Justification and Political Backlash

CEC Gyanesh Kumar maintains the Election Commission is following standard procedure, and that only voters physically present in Bihar for at least six months can be considered “ordinary residents.” However, the timing of the revision, just ahead of elections, is what has triggered a political uproar.

While the BJP and JDU have refrained from criticising the EC, the RJD and Congress have labelled it an “undeclared NRC”, accusing the commission of suppressing electoral participation.

Legacy of Jungle Raj vs Susashan: A Battle of Narratives

The Jungle Raj vs Susashan debate is not new in Bihar. The 1990s saw RJD rule under Lalu Prasad Yadav marked by allegations of lawlessness and nepotism. The 2005 victory of Nitish Kumar and BJP, driven by promises of roads, jobs, and rule of law, redefined Bihar’s political vocabulary.

However, two decades later, the sheen of Susashan is wearing thin. With mounting youth unemployment, stagnant infrastructure, and rising public frustration, many wonder whether the Jungle Raj charge still holds electoral weight, or whether voters will turn to new promises and younger leadership.

Tejashwi has tried to reposition the RJD as pro-development, drawing attention to his brief stint as Deputy CM where he held the Roads and Health portfolios, and pushing the narrative that “change means accountability, not chaos.”

What Lies Ahead

With elections only months away, the Bihar political battlefield is now defined by:

• A renewed NDA alliance, with Nitish and Modi projecting unity

• A reinvigorated RJD, with Tejashwi aiming to upstage both NDA allies

• An electoral roll revision process that may quietly determine the fate of the results

In this high-voltage fight, where slogans, symbols, and past legacies matter as much as ground-level arithmetic, the real winner may be decided not just by visible rallies — but by who appears, or disappears, from the final voter list.

As one political analyst put it:
“Bihar’s battle has always been about two visions — now it might come down to one list.”

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