Bihar Assembly Election 2025: Minds Behind the Mandate

Amit Shah: Savant of Strategy

For his party, the BJP heavyweight is the doyen of strategy, a rainmaker who catches even in-house experts in closed-door election meetings off guard with his knowledge of North Indian politics and caste dynamics. He is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s man on the ground, who is sensitive to grassroots sentiment. Shah learnt the ropes of caste engineering from BJP veteran Kalyan Singh who had mastered the art of winning elections decades ago when Indian politics was dominated by Congress, and later by caste-centric parties.

Shah performs his tasks like a multitasking surgeon, dissecting through data and other details with ease, instructing cadres on what is to be done to translate organisational prowess into electoral gains and vice-versa. He is always at the forefront of fighting elections and has demonstrated tremendous stamina for hard work and tenacity in the smartest way possible.

From realigning his party to pull in votes from a vast section of people who had never traditionally voted for BJP, to never letting go of political opportunities for inorganic growth in new geographies and in tapping new demographic segments disenchanted with lack of political representation, he is the go-to man admired as well as feared. Shah, as always, played a pivotal role in activating all arms of the Sangh for the campaign.

He has a famed knack for playing the troubleshooter, managing egos of stakeholders as well as being one step ahead of his rivals in a majority of elections held since the 2014 Lok Sabha poll that brought Modi to power with a majority at the Centre 11 years ago. Even his worst enemies don’t contest that Shah is skilled at working to the hilt at booth levels in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Like in the past, this time, too, he started preparations for the crucial state polls much early, so as not to leave anything to chance. Shah, 61, also ensured that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was taken into confidence while not alienating other allies. This time round, he presided over an election machinery armed with lessons learnt from previous ones and an election that saw rules of engagement rewritten.

Dharmendra Pradhan: Ear to the Ground

The Odisha-born leader’s biggest strengths are his deep familiarity with party workers across the country and his long experience in micro-managing elections for over two decades. Born into a political family, Pradhan cut his teeth in campus politics before rising to key positions in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and later serving as national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).

Sorted and amiable, the no-nonsense Union minister has overseen elections in Uttarakhand and held major organisational responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. He has demonstrated leadership and persuasion skills from a young age. A former Rajya Sabha member from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, Pradhan, now a Lok Sabha MP, understands Bihar well and connects easily with karyakartas. He is equally adept at dealing with senior leaders and working under pressure. A results-oriented leader, the 56-year-old listens carefully to people’s grievances and is effective in executing decisions. Known for his strong backroom abilities, the BJP leader has consistently proved useful to the party through his willingness to unlearn, relearn and adapt to the demands of coalition politics.

Jitan Ram Manjhi: Quiet Power

As the results came out on November 14, Jitan Ram Manjhi sat with his party workers and friends in Bodh Gaya, enjoying and sharing jalebis. The Union minister in the Modi government deserved to celebrate the win for his perseverance. From being a low-profile Nitish Kumar loyalist more than a decade ago to a leader of national prominence, the journey of this Mahadalit politician hasn’t followed expected lines. This former chief minister of Bihar had rebelled against Kumar and then, as founding president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), took the path of reconciliation and played a key role in the triumph of NDA in Bihar.

Chirag Paswan: Rising Son

The son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan not only defied expectations in this election but also displayed the maturity of a seasoned politician by avoiding statements even when provoked¯with the aim of not hurting the alliance. After a massive setback five years ago in the state polls, when he went solo amid certain rifts, Paswan rebuilt the party from scratch despite facing a split and aligned it with NDA. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader, who called himself ‘Modi’s Hanuman’, has successfully turned the tide this time. His party’s stellar performance i s a testament to his leadership skills and political acumen in overcoming challenges and reversing fortunes.

Sanjay Jha: The Lieutenant

The national working president of the Janata Dal (United) and trusted colleague of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Jha has long enjoyed a tremendous rapport with BJP. He has the ear of Kumar. Jha has played a key role in mending ties between the two parties whenever there has been discord or differences of opinion. An alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Madhubani native is skilled in backroom negotiations and remains calm even in the most trying occasions. The Rajya Sabha member and party stalwart deserves credit for nurturing warm ties with allies and for being accommodative by disposition. It is often said that Jha doesn’t have enemies, only friends. The affable former Bihar minister has consistently demonstrated his dexterity in smoothing the rough edges in the grime and dust of Indian politics. He did well this time round, too, in managing people and in allaying mistrust among stakeholders as well as the public so as to ensure a big win.