Bihar is eager to get out of the era of Lalu-Nitish-Paswan, this time there is a surge of youth

Bihar politics seems to be taking a new turn. Starting from Lalu Prasad Yadav, who started his political career with the JP movement during the Emergency in the seventies, to Ram Vilas Paswan, Sushil Modi and Nitish Kumar, Bihar politics has been centered around them for five decades. Paswan and Sushil Modi have passed away, Lalu Yadav is a convict and questions keep arising about Nitish Kumar’s health. In this way, a ‘generation change’ seems to be taking place in Bihar politics.

Bihar politics seems eager to come out of the era of Lalu-Nitish-Paswan. The rise of young leaders born in the 80s has started. Be it Chirag Paswan, who is carrying forward the legacy of Ram Vilas Paswan, or Tejashwi Yadav, who is considered the political heir of Lalu Yadav. Not only this, preparations are underway for the political launch of Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar. Apart from this, young leaders like Prashant Kishore of Jan Suraj, Mukesh Sahni of VIP and Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar are also eager to try their luck.

Tejashwi is the heir of Lalu Yadav

Lalu Prasad Yadav was called the uncrowned king of Bihar politics. Lalu Yadav, who started his political career from student politics, made his political identity from the JP movement. On the strength of this, he became the Chief Minister of Bihar in the nineties and ruled directly and indirectly for 15 years. The fodder scam put a shadow on Lalu Yadav’s politics and now he is a convict. Apart from this, he is also ill, but has established his son Tejaswi Yadav as his political heir.

Tejashwi Yadav is the face of RJD and has been successful in proving himself in the 2020 elections. In the 2025 assembly elections, not only RJD but the command of the opposition alliance will be in the hands of Tejashwi Yadav. The Mahagathbandhan can try its luck in Bihar elections under the leadership and face of Tejashwi. In such a situation, Tejashwi Yadav will be seen deciding the political and electoral condition and direction of RJD. Tejashwi has been the Deputy CM twice and is the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. In such a situation, it is clear that if the Mahagathbandhan returns to power, then Tejashwi Yadav will take over the reins of power.

Chirag Paswan, son of Ram Vilas

Ram Vilas Paswan, who emerged from the JP movement, emerged as a Dalit face in Bihar politics. Ram Vilas Paswan may not have been able to take over the reins of power in Bihar, but he had full influence in central politics. He traveled from Janata Party to Janata Dal and then formed his own Lok Janshakti Party. He remained a minister at the Center for a long time, but he died during the Corona period. In such a situation, Ram Vilas Paswan’s political legacy is being handled by his son Chirag Paswan.

Chirag Paswan had to struggle a lot to inherit the political legacy of Ram Vilas. Chirag first had to face his uncle Pashupati Paras and only after that he was able to establish himself. Chirag Paswan is a minister in the Modi government at the center and is a part of the NDA alliance. Chirag wants to have full influence in Bihar politics and has made a strategy to contest the 2025 elections together with the NDA. Chirag is trying to become a kingmaker in Bihar politics, for which he is weaving a political web.

Nitish’s legacy in the hands of Nishant?

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been the pivot of Bihar politics for two decades. Nitish, who started his political career in the seventies, became the CM of Bihar for the first time in 2005 and since then has kept Bihar politics in his grip. However, reports of Nitish Kumar’s ill health keep coming up every day. Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar has not made a formal entry into politics, but amid his deteriorating health, the Chief Minister of Bihar has also started worrying about his legacy.

Nishant Kumar’s increased political activism is also indicating that his role in JDU’s campaign in the assembly elections to be held this year is going to be big. It is believed that the announcement of Nishant’s political innings may be made soon. If Nitish’s son enters politics, he will play an important role in the 2025 elections. In this way, Nishant can also be seen as JDU’s star campaigner in the 2025 elections, because many JDU leaders are appealing to him to join politics.

PK-Sahani-Kanhaiya will be the faces

Prashant Kishor, who came into politics from being an election strategist, has also formed his own party named Jansuraj. He is preparing to fight the 2025 assembly elections with full vigor. Not only this, he has been exploring the political ground of Bihar for the last two years and both Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav are equally on his target. In this way, Prashant Kishor will also be an important political player in 2025, till now he used to work to get other leaders elected and there is a challenge to prove himself politically. That is why Prashant Kishor has put in all his strength.

Mukesh Sahni, who is looking for a place in Bihar politics, will also be an important player in the 2025 elections. Mukesh Sahni fought the 2020 elections while being with the NDA, four MLAs were elected and he himself became a minister. When the MLAs who won from the VIP party later joined the BJP, Mukesh Sahni became a part of the Mahagathbandhan. Sahni is a leader of the Mallah caste of the OBC society and is trying to become a kingmaker in Bihar politics with the help of his caste votes. He is a part of RJD, but is in a dilemma regarding seat sharing.

Kanhaiya Kumar, who made his political identity as the president of JNU’s student union, is now a Congress leader. He is considered close to Rahul Gandhi. Kanhaiya Kumar has become active in Bihar amid the political heat of the assembly elections. He is considered a ray of hope for the political rise of Congress in Bihar, due to which he has been activated without caring about Lalu Yadav’s displeasure. Kanhaiya Kumar is currently taking out a padyatra in Bihar on the issue of migration and employment in Bihar. With this excuse, he wants to show his political power in Bihar politics, which makes it clear that he will be the face of Congress in the 2025 elections.

Youth out of politics in Bihar

In Bihar, RJD has put forward the youth leadership with the help of Tejashwi, Tej Pratap and Misa Bharti, while LJP has put forward Chirag Paswan. Congress has fielded the pair of Krishna and Kanhaiya. About five decades ago, Lalu, Nitish and Ram Vilas started politics in Bihar riding on the chariot of socialism. After about 50 years, the politics of these three leaders has taken a 360 degree turn and now their politics is being handled by their family members. Tejashwi Yadav, Chirag Paswan and Nishant Kumar will enter the field to save the political legacy of their respective fathers. BJP has the option of Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary as a young face. In this way, there are solid political reasons behind the desire to put forward the youth leadership in all the parties.

The total population of Bihar is around 15 crores. About 58 percent of this population is below 25 years of age. This is the generation that did not see the Mandal and Mandir movement with their own eyes. Therefore, they do not give as much importance to caste and religion politics as the older generations did. The issues of this generation are also different. Tejashwi Yadav recognized this trend in the 2020 assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He raised the issues of employment and migration loudly and he also benefited from it. This is the reason why CM Nitish Kumar is also repeatedly talking about giving lakhs of jobs in his speeches. Congress has started a padyatra under the leadership of Kanhaiya Kumar. Its main issue is also education and employment.