The Mahagathbandhan in Bihar is gearing up for a series of high-profile rallies across the state, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav expected to share the stage on several occasions.
According to alliance insiders, these events are being designed not only to maintain the momentum created by the “voter adhikar yatra” and highlight concerns around SIR and vote-chori, but also to widen the scope of the Opposition’s election narrative. By addressing the economic and social challenges faced by key voter groups, the bloc aims to present itself as a serious alternative with clear solutions.
“Our plan is to organize rallies where Rahulji and Tejashwiji will jointly address the public. Leaders from our other allies will also participate in select events,” said one strategist. “Each rally will have a dedicated theme—for example, one will focus on youth issues, another on women’s concerns, a third on the migration crisis triggered by unemployment, and others on matters such as weak industrial growth, poor law and order, and the collapse of Bihar’s education system.”
The Opposition leaders intend to back their speeches with statistics, underlining how these issues have worsened over the past two decades under Nitish Kumar’s BJP–JDU administration. They also plan to roll out fresh commitments around socio-economic guarantees as part of their election promises.
This approach comes amid an internal debate within the Opposition camp on whether SIR and vote-chori alone resonate strongly with the electorate or whether the campaign should pivot more towards “bread-and-butter” concerns like jobs, migration, and development. Some leaders believe focusing solely on Modi and the Election Commission could dilute the real fight against the state government, while others insist the two issues still hold strong electoral value. The Supreme Court’s intervention on Aadhaar cards under the SIR matter has further complicated the Opposition’s messaging, making a broader campaign canvas tactically necessary.
Meanwhile, the BJP–JDU alliance has already kicked off its campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading from the front. The Centre has coupled these visits with announcements of new infrastructure and welfare projects for Bihar, setting the stage for a Modi-centric blitz that also leans on Nitish Kumar’s popularity among the EBC (Extremely Backward Class) vote bank.
