Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, formally entered the electoral fray on Wednesday by filing his nomination papers from Raghopur, a constituency long associated with his family’s political legacy.
Accompanied by his parents and former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, Tejashwi’s nomination marked the beginning of what many within the Mahagathbandhan camp see as a decisive battle to reclaim Bihar from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Voicing confidence in the alliance’s strength, RJD leader Mritunjay Tiwari said the people of Bihar were ready for change. “Everything is fine in the Mahagathbandhan, there are no ifs or buts, no conflicts. The Mahagathbandhan is united and is fighting the elections strongly. With immense public support and the blessings of the people, a Tejashwi government is going to be formed in Bihar,” Tiwari told ANI.
He added that the NDA was on its last leg. “This is the farewell of the NDA. Upendra Kushwaha has also said that something is not right somewhere, Jitan Ram Manjhi is upset, Nitish Kumar is upset. NDA now stands for 'Naiya Doobegi Abki Baar'.... Now, Bihar wants a Tejashwi government,” he asserted.
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The nomination filing comes as political temperature rises across Bihar, with major contenders declaring their candidates ahead of the high-stakes Assembly polls. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha also filed his nomination earlier in the day from Lakhisarai, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The Janata Dal (United), led by Nitish Kumar, has announced its first list of 57 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. The list, approved by the party’s national president, features key leaders such as state chief Umesh Khushwaha from Mahanar, Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar from Nalanda, and Sunil Kumar from Bhore (SC).
Polling for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14. While the NDA has completed its seat-sharing arrangements, discussions within the Mahagathbandhan over final seat allocation are still underway.
Observers say the Raghopur seat, which Tejashwi first won in 2015 and regained in 2020 after a brief loss in 2010, will once again serve as a litmus test of his leadership and the RJD’s ability to mobilise youth and rural voters across the state.
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