The results of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 are proving to be a major disappointment for the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). As vote counting continues, early trends clearly indicate that the NDA is consistently leading, while the Mahagathbandhan, led by the opposition's prominent leader and Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav, is heading towards a significant defeat. This unexpected outcome has raised serious questions in political circles regarding Tejashwi Yadav's electoral strategy. Before the elections, Tejashwi had made several grand promises, such as providing jobs and depositing money into women's accounts, but all these claims have fallen flat. Where exactly did Tejashwi's strategy go wrong? Let's dive into into the five main points considered to be the biggest reasons for his defeat.
The Decision to Ally with Congress
One of the primary and most significant strategic missteps attributed to Tejashwi Yadav is the decision to form an alliance with the Congress party, while political analysts suggest that despite the Congress's perceived weak position in Bihar, aligning with them proved costly for the Mahagathbandhan. The inability of Congress to perform as expected in the seats allocated to them, and the weak showing of many Congress candidates, negatively impacted the Grand Alliance's overall vote share, while this alliance might not have resonated with voters at the grassroots level as much as Tejashwi Yadav had hoped. This decision not only complicated seat-sharing but also alienated several potential allies, raising questions about the unity of the Mahagathbandhan.
Chasing Rahul Gandhi for Seat-Sharing
Tejashwi Yadav's perceived act of 'chasing' Rahul Gandhi for seat-sharing after. The alliance was formed is also seen as a major strategic weakness. This development conveyed a message that Tejashwi Yadav wasn't in a strong negotiating position within the alliance and had to concede to the Congress's terms. Delays and protracted negotiations over seat distribution not only affected the campaign momentum but also dampened the morale of party workers. This situation also raises questions about Tejashwi's leadership capabilities, as a Chief Ministerial candidate is expected to play a more decisive role, while such political wrangling also created an atmosphere of uncertainty among voters, the consequences of which were borne out in the election results.
Yielding to Mukesh Sahani and Agreeing to Deputy CM Post
The alliance with Mukesh Sahani, chief of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), and the offer of the Deputy Chief Minister's post to him, was another controversial aspect of Tejashwi's strategy. Tejashwi Yadav made significant concessions to appease Sahani, known as 'Son of Mallah. ' It's believed that giving Sahani such importance and even agreeing to the Deputy CM position indicated Tejashwi's compulsion, while this move might have sent the wrong message to other smaller parties or potential allies, or perhaps Sahani's party didn't deliver the expected electoral gains. This decision could have also created discontent within the Mahagathbandhan and raised questions about whether this compromise was justified for electoral benefits.
During the election campaign, Tejashwi Yadav's deviation from real issues such as unemployment, inflation, and development, to focus on allegations like 'vote theft,' is also considered a significant strategic error. At a time when voters were seeking solutions to their everyday problems, Tejashwi focused on questioning the credibility of the electoral process. Such allegations often create a negative perception among voters and distract them from mainstream issues. This strategy failed to convey to voters that Tejashwi Yadav had a clear and concrete development agenda for Bihar. Instead, it might have presented him as a leader who was already looking for excuses in anticipation of a defeat.
Deviating from Real Issues to 'Vote Theft' Allegations
Bumper Women's Voting Spoiled RJD's Game
The high voter turnout among women in the Bihar Assembly Elections Notably disrupted the game plan of the Mahagathbandhan, particularly the RJD. The total voter turnout in this election was 67. 13%, the highest since 1951, with notable participation from women voters. Tejashwi Yadav had made several promises for women, such as depositing money. Into their accounts, but it appears that women voters largely favored the NDA. This is a crucial demographic shift that impacted the election results. Women might have prioritized issues like security, law and order, and government schemes, where the NDA presented itself as a strong contender. Tejashwi Yadav's strategy failed to understand and capitalize on this unexpected trend among women voters, leading to a significant loss for his alliance.
Overall, the results of the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 have brought a significant lesson for Tejashwi Yadav. His strategy faltered at multiple levels, keeping the Mahagathbandhan away from the anticipated success, while it will now be interesting to see how Tejashwi Yadav charts his future political course after this defeat.
