Opinion Tejashwi Yadav is the opposition alliance’s CM face. But is Bihar ready for generational change?

The MGB, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, left parties, and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), has been marred by internal negotiations and uncertainty regarding leadership. By projecting Tejashwi as its unambiguous leader, the alliance seeks to end speculation and project a unified front against the NDA, which appears divided over Nitish Kumar’s future role.

Tejashwi’s emergence as the CM face gives the alliance a centralised leadership, capable of appealing to the state’s youth and marginalised classes. His political maturity since the 2020 election, where the RJD emerged as the largest party, has strengthened his image as the natural inheritor of Bihar’s opposition space.

The campaign slogan Chalo Bihar, Badlein Bihar (Let’s Go Bihar, Let’s Change Bihar) encapsulates Tejashwi’s attempt to build an emotional and developmental narrative around change, echoing the aspirations of a generation tired of stagnation. The emphasis on women’s empowerment, through promises such as permanent jobs for Jeevika Didis, salary hikes, loan waivers, and insurance cover, reflect a conscious effort to broaden the RJD’s traditional social base beyond Yadav-Muslim consolidation.

Women’s participation in Bihar’s grassroots economy through self-help groups has been transformative, and Tejashwi’s outreach aims to tap into this silent yet decisive constituency. His message that governance will focus on dignity, employment, and empowerment seeks to build a contrast with the NDA’s narrative centered on law and order and infrastructure.

Bihar’s youth unemployment rate remains one of the highest in India. Tejashwi’s commitment to regularising contract workers and creating permanent jobs is an attempt to position himself as the voice of an impatient generation. His statement, “Even my shadow will be punished if it commits a mistake,” is not just rhetoric; it signals an effort to cleanse the RJD’s image of corruption and rebrand it under a governance-oriented, modern leadership.

By invoking zero tolerance for corruption, Tejashwi also attempts to occupy the moral high ground, once monopolised by Nitish Kumar. His attack on the BJP — accusing it of neglecting Bihar’s industrial and economic potential highlights a key issue: The state’s lack of industrialisation and employment opportunities, despite repeated promises under the “double-engine” model.

The decision to name Mukesh Sahani as the Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate adds a symbolic layer of inclusivity to attract the Nishad and marginalised OBC communities, which have often felt underrepresented. It indicates that the Mahagathbandhan is learning from past mistakes — focusing on a caste-inclusive and class-sensitive coalition, rather than relying solely on traditional vote banks.

However, the challenges remain formidable. The MGB’s intra-alliance seat sharing, competing ambitions, and historical mistrust could re-emerge if not managed deftly. The NDA’s well-oiled electoral machinery and the BJP’s ability to set national narratives mean Tejashwi must localise the discourse — anchoring it on employment, governance, and justice rather than anti-incumbency alone.

Moreover, while Tejashwi’s youth appeals to Bihar’s restless demographic, his leadership will be tested on administrative credibility. Voters may still remember the Jungle Raj era, and converting optimism into trust will require promises and institutional reassurance.

Nationally, Tejashwi’s assertive positioning carries implications beyond Bihar. If he can lead the MGB to victory, it would revive the RJD’s legacy and offer the INDIA bloc a credible young face capable of mobilising regional aspirations against the BJP’s dominance. Bihar could once again become the crucible of opposition politics — much like in the 1970s and 1990s. The coming months will reveal whether Bihar is genuinely ready to embrace generational change — or whether experience, as represented by Nitish Kumar, still holds the upper hand in the politics of endurance.

The writer is a post-doctoral fellow at Aligarh Muslim University