In a stunning development ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Vibha Devi Yadav resigned from her position as the representative of Nawada on October 12, 2025, sending ripples through the state’s political landscape. In a surprising twist, she publicly lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, head of the rival Janata Dal (United), for his developmental work in Nawada and Bihar. Her resignation and remarks come at a critical juncture, with the 243-seat Bihar Assembly polls scheduled for November 6 and 11, and vote counting set for November 14. This move has sparked speculation about potential defections and shifting alliances as political parties intensify their preparations.

Vibha Devi Yadav, a prominent RJD figure, announced her resignation with a statement emphasizing the importance of development, saying, “The public looks for development. The public will raise the question of whether there has been a development or not.” Her praise for Nitish Kumar, a key leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), highlighted his contributions to infrastructure and governance in Nawada and across Bihar. This unexpected endorsement from an opposition MLA underscores Kumar’s reputation for delivering development, potentially influencing voter sentiment in a state where infrastructure and job creation remain top concerns. Yadav’s exit leaves the RJD scrambling to address the vacancy in Nawada, a constituency with significant electoral weight.

Meanwhile, RJD leader and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav doubled down on his party’s campaign promises, reiterating a pledge to provide government jobs to every family without employment. Speaking to the media on October 12, he declared, “From November 14 onwards, the people of Bihar will be free from unemployment.” This ambitious commitment is central to the RJD-led INDIA bloc’s strategy, which includes allies like Congress, CPI (ML), CPI, CPM, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). The opposition coalition is locked in intense negotiations over seat-sharing to challenge the NDA’s dominance, with both sides holding marathon meetings in Delhi and Patna to finalize candidate lists and strategies.

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The Bihar elections are shaping up as a fierce contest between the NDA, led by Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the INDIA bloc, with a new wildcard in the form of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party entering the fray. The BJP’s Central Election Committee convened on October 11 to finalize its candidate lineup, signaling the NDA’s aggressive push to retain power. The Election Commission’s announcement of a two-phase polling schedule, coupled with a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists nationwide, ensures a robust electoral process. Political analysts view Vibha Devi Yadav’s resignation as a potential catalyst for further realignments, with her praise for Kumar possibly hinting at broader discontent within the RJD ranks.

As Bihar heads toward the polls, the stakes are high for both the NDA and the INDIA bloc, with development, employment, and governance at the forefront of voter concerns. Vibha Devi Yadav’s departure and her unexpected nod to Nitish Kumar highlight the fluid nature of Bihar’s political alliances, where loyalty can shift in the face of electoral pragmatism. With the entry of Jan Suraaj and ongoing seat-sharing talks, the elections promise to be a battleground of ideologies and promises. As November approaches, all eyes are on Bihar to see whether development rhetoric, as echoed by Yadav, will sway voters or if the opposition’s job-centric pledges will gain traction in this pivotal contest.

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