The high stakes battle for Bihar has brought the NDA top brass to ground zero, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. On the contrary, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav is the lone soldier from the INDIA alliance. 

Yadav, who has addressed more than hundred rallies and public meetings ahead of the polls, says he has “converted his helicopter into a tractor”. His rallies have smaller stages and no tents or chairs –  in contrast to the NDA’s grand arrangements – but the crowd has an electrifying energy.  

People standing close to Yadav’s stage raise slogans in his support and take videos of his speeches that often go viral on social media. The stage itself remains brimming with RJD leaders, with no place to sit. “We are the party of the poor,” Yadav tells Newslaundry, adding that there is “no level playing field”.

The RJD has remained out of power in the state since 2005, barring its 17-month coalition government with the JDU. But since his political debut in 2015, the party’s vote share has increased. In the 2020 assembly polls, the RJD became the biggest party in Bihar after securing 75 seats and 23.5 percent votes. 

Similar to 2020, Yadav’s poll plank is employment this time. He is banking on the five lakh job appointments reportedly made during his tenure as Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister. In his rally speeches, the RJD leader emphasises that the INDIA bloc will provide employment to over one crore youth. He also talks about setting up industries and issues of lack of medical facilities and poverty in Bihar.

Meanwhile, the BJP has been drawing comparisons between the “jungle raj before 2005” and the present-day Bihar. The saffron party secured 39 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 polls, but Yadav says the ongoing election is “different” and that “this time, there will be a shocking result from Bihar.” 

While the party workers’ spirits are also high, the RJD is staring at a lack of funds, and allegations of nepotism and corruption. So will the Tejashwi Yadav factor work in Bihar?

Watch.