New Delhi: The political contest in Bihar has taken a sharp turn as two competing “MY” equations shape the 2025 Assembly elections. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is banking on its traditional Muslim-Yadav base, while the BJP-JD(U)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is countering with a Mahila-Yuva strategy focused on women and youth.
RJD’s long-standing reliance on the Muslim-Yadav bloc remains central to its campaign. According to the 2023 Bihar Caste Census, Muslims form 17.7 percent of the state’s population and Yadavs 14.26 percent, both crucial to RJD’s social coalition. The Congress, an RJD ally, is quietly attempting to strengthen its own base among Muslim voters, aiming to consolidate support across constituencies.
In contrast, the NDA has shifted away from caste-driven politics. With 7.43 crore eligible voters, including nearly 3.5 crore women and over 1.5 crore youth, the alliance is prioritizing welfare and empowerment schemes. These include direct cash transfers of ₹10,000 to women and targeted programs for first-time voters. Leaders argue this approach reflects a developmental, forward-looking agenda.
Both alliances are also courting upper-caste voters. The BJP’s list of 101 candidates features strong representation from Brahmin, Rajput, and Bhumihar communities, while JD(U) has made similar moves.
Political analysts describe the Bihar election as a clash between two visions—RJD’s caste identity politics and NDA’s gender-youth outreach. Dr. Archana Kumari observes that the NDA’s MY formula appears more decisive in defining the tone of this year’s contest.
