Bihar votes in the first phase of Assembly polling on Thursday, with 121 constituencies across 18 districts going to the ballot. The high-stakes contest stretches from the Kosi–Mithila belt to Patna.
About The Author
Mohammad Ali is an award-winning journalist who divides his time between New York and London. He tweets @hindureporter
Anand Mohan, a murder convict who was released early by Nitish Kumar in 2023, remains an instance of Bihar’s uneasy nexus of caste, crime, and politics. His son Chetan Anand and wife lovely Anand carry forward his controversial legacy.
The folk singer-turned-BJP candidate invokes Goddess Sita and Maithil identity to win Alinagar, but faces local resentment, organisational chaos, and the outsider tag in a closely contested seat.
For all the talk of ‘development first’ politics by NDA and Mahagathbandhan, Bihar remains a state where caste is the primary currency, especially so during Assembly elections
From the empty rooms of its state office to the crowded rallies of the Mahagathbandhan, the Congress party doesn’t find too many supporters.
With just four days left for the first phase of the Bihar elections, political activity in the state has reached its peak. From the INDIA bloc and the NDA to the Mahagathbandhan are making big promises on jobs, industries, and curbing migration. But on the ground, voters remain divided and unsure about who to trust this time.
In this Outlook interview, Mukesh Sahani, founder of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and former Bihar minister, talks about Bihar’s backward and fisherman communities. He criticises the focus on “five kilos of rice” as development, highlighting gaps in education, healthcare, and employment. Sahani explains why he formed VIP in 2018 after advocating for Nishad community rights and SC reservation in Bihar, following examples from Bengal and Delhi. He also discusses the impact of BJP and RSS policies on backward and Dalit groups and calls for politics to focus on real issues like social justice, equality, and development.
In this Outlook video report, JD(U)’s muscleman, former MLA Anant Singh is accused of killing Jan Suraaj worker Dularchand Yadav in a violent clash in Basawan Chak. The incident has reignited fears of Jungle Raj and raised tough questions about Nitish Kumar’s governance. As Bihar heads into the 2025 elections, the killing once again blurs the line between Nitish Raj and the lawlessness it once vowed to end.
JD(U)’s muscleman Anant Singh has been booked for the killing of Jan Suraaj worker Dularchand Yadav, rekindling old fears of Jungle Raj. Biharis are questioning whether CM Nitish Kumar’s promise of good governance was ever more than a carefully curated image.
Implementation of Targeted Welfare Schemes Has Kept Anti-Incumbency in Check.
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