The NDA’s manifesto release for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections on Friday was a notably brief event, lasting less than a minute, according to rivals and media reports
Held in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP national president JP Nadda, and other senior NDA leaders, the event drew widespread attention. However, Nitish Kumar did not address the gathering; instead, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary presented the manifesto highlights. These included promises of over one crore jobs, financial support for women, investments in agriculture, and industrial development.
The event’s unusually short and subdued nature fueled criticism and speculation from opposition leaders.Congress leaders accused the NDA of evading media questions on its two-decade governance record. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot described the “26-second” press event as a “dangerous sign for democracy,” questioning why Nitish Kumar was not allowed to speak and calling it disrespectful to Bihar and its people. Congress representatives argued that the NDA lacked confidence in its manifesto and feared public scrutiny.
Observers suggest that the apparent “sidelining” of Nitish Kumar may be driven by political calculations, including concerns about his health and strategic considerations for the NDA campaign
Adding to the uncertainty, BJP leaders such as Amit Shah have indicated that the final decision on the chief ministerial candidate will be taken by elected MLAs after the polls, raising questions about Nitish Kumar’s continued leadership if the NDA retains power
Although some argue that this reflects the BJP’s stronger influence within the alliance, the reality remains that Nitish Kumar’s prominence appears diminished compared to earlier years. Though later, Nitish Kumar released a separate video message, appealing to voters to support the NDA for Bihar’s development, highlighting the state’s progress in law and order as well as efforts toward governance inclusive of all communities, reaffirming his government’s achievements since 2005, the manifesto’ episode reflected the complex coalition dynamics vis-a-vis the chief minister.
Apparently, the NDA leaders also wanted to avoid any narrative that could be exploited by the opposition Mahagathbandhan. Politics, ultimately, is also about managing perceptions.
