BJP and JDU gear up for Bihar Assembly elections, focusing on unity, strategy, and migrant participation.
NEW DELHI: Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal United (JDU) have begun preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for October–November later this year. A source within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) told The Sunday Guardian that the alliance is determined to retain power in the state. To this end, the NDA recently held a closed-door meeting to discuss its election strategy. “One of the main topics of discussion was the careful selection of key issues to be highlighted during the election campaign. These issues will be finalised through mutual understanding among the party leadership to ensure they reflect the expectations and sentiments of the people,” the source added. Earlier this week, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened a meeting with leaders of NDA allies, including Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLMO), with the focus firmly on the upcoming Bihar elections. Senior leaders from all constituent parties were present. Sources revealed that during this session, Kumar delivered a strong message of unity to all NDA partners and emphasised the need for coordination and teamwork in the run-up to the polls. JDU National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan, speaking to The Sunday Guardian, said that the party intends to contest the Bihar Assembly elections based on its performance and achievements. He added that during the meeting, the Chief Minister urged all NDA allies to hit the ground and actively engage with the public, highlighting the accomplishments of the government. According to Ranjan, Kumar assigned all constituent parties the task of informing voters about the transformations that have taken place in the state over the last two decades. He directed leaders to draw a clear comparison between the pre-2005 situation and the current state in 2025, particularly emphasising progress in education, healthcare, road infrastructure, electricity, and transportation. In addition to these directives, a significant portion of the meeting was focused on developing a comprehensive election strategy. It is important to note that the Bihar Assembly elections will coincide with the festive season of October-November, a time marked by substantial inter-state migration as people return home to celebrate with their families. With this in mind, the BJP’s Bihar unit plans to make a strong appeal to Bihari migrants living across the country. The party will urge them to return to their home state not only to celebrate the festivals but also to participate in the democratic process by casting their votes. The BJP believes that these migrants play a crucial role in helping establish a competent and developmentoriented government in Bihar. Sources disclosed that the BJP has identified 150 districts across India with large Bihari migrant populations. As part of its election outreach, BJP leaders and workers will visit these districts to establish a direct connection with the migrant community. During these visits, party representatives will inform people about the developmental progress Bihar has seen under NDA rule, including improvements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment generation, and overall governance. The source also noted that before this high-level meeting, Kumar had held earlier discussions with ministers and senior leaders from both the JDU and BJP. In that meeting as well, the focus was on maintaining intra-party coordination and presenting a united front. A political analyst shared insights with The Sunday Guardian, explaining that the BJP’s strategy revolves around increasing awareness about Bihar’s development journey. As part of this plan, the party is encouraging Bihari migrants to return home during the elections not just to enjoy the festivities with family, but to take part in shaping the state’s future by voting. The analyst pointed out that over two crore people originally from Bihar currently reside in various parts of India. This vast migrant population constitutes a significant and influential vote bank. The BJP aims to activate and mobilise this group to ensure strong voter turnout, thereby boosting its chances of securing a majority and forming a stable, development-oriented government in the state.