Bihar’s Political Landscape: Key Developments and Upcoming Elections

Bihar is preparing for assembly elections, with all political parties actively campaigning. The ongoing debate around the Special Investigation Report (SIR) has become a focal point, involving the ruling and opposition parties, and the Election Commission. The Supreme Court has issued an interim order, which RJD and Congress have welcomed as a victory for justice. Tejashwi Yadav expressed his pleasure, noting that the Supreme Court supported their position on the SIR. He claimed that the Election Commission had been trying to hide information. The Congress screening committee met, and potential candidates from 19 districts submitted their applications. The meeting was led by Ajay Maken, the chairman of the committee. JDU is launching a statewide campaign, ‘Sushasan Ka Saar-Aapke Dwar,’ starting August 17th, running until August 23rd. The campaign aims to reach voters at the booth level, using booklets and stickers to inform them about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s accomplishments over the past 20 years, to foster trust. Rituraj Sinha, a BJP leader, criticized Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav’s stance on the SIR, accusing them of spreading false information. Sheela Mandal, the Bihar Transport Minister, praised Nitish Kumar’s transformative impact on the state over the last two decades. Mukesh Sahni, a former minister, predicted that a Grand Alliance government would be formed in Bihar within the next three months. Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home, stated that the Congress has rejected Tejashwi Yadav. The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee welcomed the Supreme Court’s order, which is seen as a crucial step in restoring the rights of voters removed from the 2025 voter list. The order mandates the public release of the lists of removed voters, the reasons for their removal, and dissemination through various media channels.