Tejashwi Yadav, the Chief Ministerial candidate of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), faced a gripping contest in his political stronghold of Raghopur during the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, even trailing for several rounds, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged past the 200-seat mark, cementing its dominance in the state legislature.
Election Day Drama in Raghopur
The Raghopur constituency, steeped in the legacy of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family, witnessed a dramatic swing in the pendulum throughout vote counting. Tejashwi Yadav, RJD’s face and son of Lalu, was in a neck-and-neck race with BJP’s Satish Kumar. Early counting saw Tejashwi trailing, sometimes by over 2,200 votes, setting alarm bells ringing for the Mahagathbandhan, especially as Raghopur is seen as the Yadav family bastion. By the 18th round, he was a mere 389 votes behind Kumar.
However, the tides turned as the count progressed. Tejashwi started reclaiming his lead in the later rounds, eventually clinching victory by 14,532 votes over his BJP rival, finishing with 1,18,597 votes against Satish Kumar’s 1,04,065. This hard-fought win came after one of the most pulsating seesaws in the state’s electoral history, marked by anxious moments for RJD workers and leaders.
NDA’s Unprecedented Mandate
While the Mahagathbandhan (RJD-led alliance) struggled to keep pace, the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), and other partners, swept the polls, surpassing the 200-seat threshold out of 243 total assembly seats. The final tally saw NDA secure an overwhelming majority, with BJP and JD(U) leading the charge. Nitish Kumar’s trusted governance model, focusing on development and women’s empowerment, resonated strongly with voters, leading to this landslide victory.
The opposition, on the other hand, suffered a significant setback. The Mahagathbandhan’s seat count plummeted, and RJD, Congress, as well as left allies, had to settle for far fewer seats than anticipated. This result has reinforced the NDA’s dominance, promising another term for Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister.
The Raghopur Race: Blow-by-Blow
- 5th round: BJP’s Satish Kumar ahead by 106 votes.
- 6th round: Tejashwi edges past with a slim lead of 219 votes.
- 18th round: Tejashwi trails again by 389 votes.
- 20th round: Takes a narrow lead by 3,523 votes.
- 21st round: Lead increases to nearly 5,000 votes.
- 29th–32nd rounds: Tejashwi widens the gap, finally sealing victory with a comfortable margin.
This rollercoaster contest, set in the heart of RJD’s legacy territory, reflects the underlying shifts in voter sentiment and the growing competitiveness of the Bihar political landscape.
Mahagathbandhan’s Fading Fortunes
Despite Tejashwi’s personal triumph in Raghopur, the larger narrative for the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan is one of disappointment. Their inability to mount a meaningful challenge across Bihar, combined with a lacklustre performance in key constituencies, has forced a reckoning with strategy and grassroots connect.
Election experts attribute Nitish Kumar’s enduring “trust factor,” particularly his schemes targeting women, as pivotal to the NDA’s victory. The spectre of “Jungle Raj” attached to previous RJD governments may have also played a role in swaying undecided voters toward stability and continuity.
Key Factors Behind Results
- Trust in Nitish Kumar’s governance and development policies.
- Emphasis on women’s voting power and welfare programs.
- Negative perceptions of RJD’s law-and-order record.
- BJP and JD(U)’s strategic alliance and coalition management.
- RJD’s inability to expand its appeal beyond traditional bases.
Implications for Tejashwi Yadav
Tejashwi Yadav’s election in Raghopur, albeit after a tense battle, safeguards his presence in Bihar’s legislature but dims his immediate prospects for chief ministership. The scale of NDA’s victory will challenge the RJD to rethink its organisational tactics, messaging, and inclusivity.
As NDA celebrates, Tejashwi’s next moves, whether deepening constituency work, recalibrating opposition strategy, or seeking alliances, will be crucial for the future of both the RJD and the broader Mahagathbandhan.