Modi in Bihar battleground: Will NDA’s election agenda be set from Karpoori Thakur’s village?

Bihar Elections 2025: The battle for the Bihar Assembly elections has intensified. After the nomination process and withdrawal of nominations, the picture of the candidates has become clear; now all the parties have jumped into the campaign war. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded its strongest weapon—Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, PM Modi started his election campaign from Karpoori village in Samastipur district, which is the ancestral village of Bharat Ratna awardee and former Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. This symbolic launch sets the NDA's agenda—focusing on the heritage and development of the backward classes. 

Starting from Karpuri Village: Strategy to tap EBC vote bank

Karpoori Thakur (1918-1988) is famous as the 'Jananayak' of Bihar, who fought throughout his life for the rights of Dalits, Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs). While serving as Chief Minister twice in the 1970s, he implemented historic policies like reservation for backward classes, which are still the basis of Bihar politics. This year, the Modi government honored Thakur posthumously with the Bharat Ratna.

PM Modi paid tribute to Karpoori Thakur by laying a garland at the memorial site and said, "The opposition is trying to 'steal' the legacy of Karpoori Thakur, but NDA is its real heir." After this he will address a huge rally in Begusarai. EBCs constitute 30–35% of Bihar's population, including more than 100 small castes. The NDA, especially in alliance with Nitish Kumar's JDU, is emphasizing strengthening this vote bank. Starting with Karpoori Gram is an attempt to counter the EBC-centric strategy of the Grand Alliance.

Modi's strong attacks on opposition 

Setting the agenda for Bihar from Delhi even before the campaign, PM Modi on Thursday emphasized development, heritage and unity in the virtual 'Dialogue with Elders' and 'Run for Bihar Unity' programs. Targeting RJD's 15-year rule, he said, "People will not forget Jungle Raj in Bihar for the next 100 years. No matter how much the opposition tries to hide its misdeeds, the public will not forgive it."

Appealing to the youth, Modi said, "I will ask all the youth of Bihar to gather young voters at every booth and call the elders of that area and tell everyone the old stories of Jungle Raj." In rallies in East Champaran (September 15) and Purnia (September 16), he accused RJD-Congress of crime, corruption, nepotism, neglect of farmers and vote bank politics. "RJD and Congress left Bihar in floods and poverty. We gave solutions," he asserted.

Raising the issue of insult to his mother in a video conference in Patna on September 2, Modi said, "Now that my mother is no more in this world, yet foul language was used for her from the platform of RJD and Congress. This is not just an insult to my mother; it is an insult to every mother, sister and daughter of the country. The crown prince of the royal family cannot understand the penance of a poor mother." (Without naming Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav.)

NDA has launched a special campaign to refresh the memories of 'Lalu Raj,' in which stories of Jungle Raj are being spread from the elders to the youth. Also, the achievements of the Nitish government and the Center—such as infrastructure, employment and welfare schemes—are being counted.

Mahagathbandhan's countermove: Bet on EBC-MY equation

The Mahagathbandhan (RJD, Congress, Left parties, VIP etc.) is also trying to garner EBC votes. There is an attempt to break into the NDA fort by linking EBC with the Muslim-Yadav (MY) equation. An attempt is being made to woo VIPs like Mukesh Sahni (from the Nishad-Mallah community, a major part of the EBC) by making him the face of the Deputy Chief Minister. In the withdrawal of nominations, the Mahagathbandhan got unity on three seats—Congress on two and VIP withdrew their nominations on one so that there could be a united fight against the NDA.

Rahul Gandhi is missing from the Mahagathbandhan's posters, indicating his distance from Bihar or preparation for a national campaign. The role of youth and Generation Z voters will be decisive, with policies and development issues posing challenges for both the alliances.