Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav exuded confidence on Sunday about the Mahagathbandhan alliance forming the next Bihar government, boldly declaring November 18 as his swearing-in date—four days after the poll results on November 14. Addressing a rally amid the first phase of voting on November 6, Yadav positioned himself as the opposition's chief ministerial face, vowing to swiftly dismantle the state's alleged lawlessness. His assertions come against the backdrop of heightened tensions, including the early-morning arrest of JD(U) candidate Anant Singh in the murder of Jan Suraaj supporter Dular Chand Yadav on October 30 in Mokama. Yadav framed the incident as inevitable under the NDA's watch, urging voters to back a regime that prioritises justice over protectionism.
Yadav lambasted the current Nitish Kumar-led NDA for fostering a crime-infested environment, citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data placing Bihar atop India's crime charts with over 3.5 lakh cases in 2024 alone. "Between November 26 and January 26—including the kharmaas period—Tejashwi will ensure all criminals, irrespective of caste or religion, are behind bars and face the strictest action," he proclaimed, promising a crackdown within weeks of assuming power.
The 35-year-old scion of Lalu Prasad Yadav, leveraging his 2020 stint as deputy CM where he launched 10 lakh jobs, appealed to youth and marginalised communities hit by unemployment (13% per NSSO) and migration. His X post amplified the message, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi—who was campaigning in Arrah—to "take note" of daily heinous crimes, asserting change upon Mahagathbandhan's victory.
The remarks elicited swift rebuttals from NDA allies. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan defended the government's impartiality: "If we protected criminals, last night's arrest wouldn't have happened. As Nitish Kumar says, We neither frame nor shield anyone." Union Minister Nityanand Rai countered by dredging up RJD's past, alleging criminals from massacres to rapes found refuge in party ministers' homes during Lalu's era. "Protecting criminals, nepotism, and grabbing the poor's land—that was RJD's hallmark," Rai claimed, invoking the 1990s "jungle raj" narrative central to BJP's campaign.
Also Read: Family of Murdered Jan Suraaj Supporter Refuses Rituals Till all Accused Face Death Sentence
Bihar's 2025 polls, spanning November 6 and 11 with 7.5 crore voters across 243 seats, pit the NDA's 20-year incumbency—boasting infrastructure like the Patna Metro—against Mahagathbandhan's welfare pitch, including caste census and jobs. Yadav's bravado, echoing his father's legacy, aims to consolidate Yadav-Muslim-OBC votes in 100-plus seats, but surveys show NDA's edge narrowing to 4-5% amid anti-incumbency. The Anant Singh case, with ECI-mandated official transfers, amplifies opposition barbs on security failures.
As Modi rallies in Bihar, Yadav's preemptive victory lap risks overconfidence if turnout dips below 70% or caste arithmetic falters. Yet, in a state where the youth bulge (60% under 35) craves employment over nostalgia, his timeline could galvanise the base. The November 14 verdict will test whether Tejashwi's audacity translates to power or remains a rhetorical flourish in Bihar's perennial political chessboard.
Also Read: CEC Assures Bihar Voters of Peaceful Polls After Political Tension in Mokama