Tejashwi Yadav entered the Bihar Election 2025 expecting a strong resurgence, hoping to replicate or even surpass the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s 2020 performance. However, as the counting progressed, the RJD slipped below 40 seats, marking one of its weakest outings in recent years and dashing Tejashwi Yadav’s chief ministerial ambitions. Compared to 2020 — when the RJD emerged as the single-largest party with 75 seats — the 2025 result is a sharp political setback for the young leader. Early trends showed the Mahagathbandhan struggling below 50 seats, raising serious questions about where Tejashwi Yadav went wrong and why his campaign failed to connect with voters.
Tejashwi Yadav’s Job-Centric Pitch Failed to Gain Momentum
For the past five years, Tejashwi Yadav has built his political image around employment generation. In 2020, his focus on “10 lakh government jobs” struck a chord and made him a youth icon across caste lines. However, the same strategy failed to create traction in 2025. While employment remained a key concern, voters appeared skeptical about feasibility, especially when the Nitish Kumar-led NDA highlighted central and state-level welfare schemes as tangible governance achievements.
Tejashwi Yadav Failed to Attract Women Voters
One of the biggest reasons behind the NDA’s massive lead is the unwavering loyalty of women voters to Nitish Kumar’s social welfare programs. In an attempt to counter this, Tejashwi Yadav announced the Mai Bahin Maan Yojana, promising ₹2,500 monthly assistance to economically weaker women. Additionally, he pledged ₹30,000 as a one-time benefit. But these promises came too late, especially after Nitish Kumar credited ₹10,000 to 25 lakh women under a state employment initiative right before the elections. Analysts believe that Nitish’s decades-long rapport with women voters proved unbeatable.
Social Coalition Expansion: A Mission That Didn’t Materialize
For years, Tejashwi Yadav has tried to expand the RJD beyond its traditional Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) vote base by calling it an inclusive “A-to-Z party.” He did bring in several EBC, Dalit, and youth leaders, but the 2025 results
show that this broader coalition did not consolidate effectively. In a complex caste-driven state like Bihar, merely signaling inclusivity wasn’t enough. The NDA successfully capitalized on caste arithmetic, while the Mahagathbandhan failed to unify fragmented voting blocs.
Past Shadows: ‘Jungle Raj’ Narrative Still Haunts Tejashwi Yadav
Despite efforts to project himself as a modern, development-oriented leader, Tejashwi Yadav continued to grapple with the historical baggage of RJD’s 1990s rule. NDA leaders repeatedly invoked the “Jungle Raj” tag during rallies, reviving memories of lawlessness and administrative breakdown. Even though Tejashwi emphasized present-day issues, the ruling alliance effectively weaponized this narrative, influencing undecided and first-time voters.
Campaign Momentum Lost in 2025
A major internal sentiment among RJD workers suggests that Tejashwi Yadav’s campaign lacked intensity and organization compared to 2020. Many believe the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign structure weakened due to coordination issues. Rahul Gandhi’s Matdata Adhikar Yatra drew significant manpower from various alliance
partners, which inadvertently drained resources that RJD needed for independent messaging. Moreover, the coalition struggled to present a unified vision, giving the NDA a narrative advantage.
Tejashwi Yadav Could Not Offset Nitish–Modi Double Appeal
Even though Nitish Kumar faced anti-incumbency after two decades in power, the NDA ran a dual-leadership campaign — showcasing Nitish’s governance at the state level and PM Narendra Modi’s welfare schemes nationally. This combined appeal overshadowed Tejashwi Yadav, especially in rural segments where BJP’s extensive booth network ensured high voter mobilization.
Why the Result Matters for Tejashwi Yadav
The 2025 outcome does not signal the end of Tejashwi Yadav’s political journey, but it marks a turning point. His ability to rally young voters remains significant, but the election exposes the need for stronger organizational structure, renewed strategy, and a broader social alliance. Bihar’s political landscape is evolving, and Tejashwi must recalibrate if he wants to stay a central figure in future elections.
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