As Bihar completed its first phase of voting and prepared for the second and final phase on November 11, 2025, Manish Verma, a former bureaucrat and national general secretary of JD(U), shared his observations on the election landscape. Speaking about the campaign, he emphasized that Nitish Kumar remains the clear face of the NDA alliance despite some initial delays in formal clarity. Verma noted the significant surge in women voter turnout during the first phase, attributing it to the government's welfare schemes and women-focused policies over nearly two decades. He dismissed concerns about internal party disagreements on leadership and rejected claims that the election was solely about cash handouts. Verma also downplayed the impact of opposition promises and new political entrants, asserting confidence in the NDA's track record and Nitish Kumar's proven governance model for Bihar's development.
Nitish Kumar's Leadership and NDA's Chief Ministerial Face
After visiting around 70 of the 101 seats contested by JD(U), Verma observed that Nitish Kumar was clearly the face of the election. He highlighted the deep trust people have in Nitish's leadership, built over 19 years as Chief Minister. While acknowledging some delay in projecting him officially as the CM candidate, Verma stressed that top NDA leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, confirmed from the start that Nitish would lead. He dismissed media speculation about leadership changes, stating there is no alternative within the alliance. Other coalition partners like Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Hindustani Awam Morcha, and Lok Janshakti Party have consistently endorsed Nitish as the chief ministerial face for the ongoing elections.
Source: Link