With the Bihar Assembly elections due later this year, political sparring has intensified after Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure more than 160 seats out of 243. The claim has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, including Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders, who accused the ruling alliance of attempting to mislead voters through “vote manipulation and freebies.”

Jairam Ramesh targets Amit Shah’s remarks

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh was quick to respond to Shah’s statement, terming it an example of what he called “VC politics.” Taking to social media platform X, Ramesh said:

“In education, VC stands for Vice Chancellor. In the start-up world, VC means Venture Capital. In the military, VC is Vir Chakra. But now we have a new kind of VC that is defining our politics—Vote Chori.”

He alleged that Shah’s confidence in winning 160 seats rested on the BJP’s “machinations” and the distribution of populist benefits, which he referred to as “Vote Revdi.” “The politically conscious people of Bihar will defeat these tactics. The first tremor of this result will be felt in New Delhi,” Ramesh added.

Tejashwi Yadav calls Nitish government ‘visionless’

RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, also lashed out at the state government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He described it as a “copycat administration” lacking fresh ideas and a clear direction for Bihar’s future.

“This government is a copycat, whereas we have a vision; this government is visionless,” Yadav said while addressing party workers.

He alleged corruption in the state’s financial management and questioned how the government planned to raise additional revenue. Citing the budgetary figures, he said:

  • Bihar’s budget in February 2025 stood at ₹3.17 lakh crore.
  • A supplementary grant of ₹58,000 crore was added in July.
  • The Aasmik Nidhi fund rose to ₹20,000 crore from ₹12,000 crore.

Yadav pointed out that with committed expenditure and salaries consuming nearly ₹2 lakh crore, the state government had little scope for funding new schemes. “Tell us how much revenue is really available and how the Chief Minister plans to increase it,” he asked.

The battle lines in Bihar

The Bihar Assembly has 243 members. Currently, the NDA commands a majority with 131 MLAs—BJP (80), JD(U) (45), Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (4), and support from two Independents. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD, is positioning itself as the alternative to what it calls “failed governance” under Nitish Kumar.

The election is being closely watched as a litmus test for the BJP-JD(U) alliance and for the RJD-led Opposition bloc. While the NDA hopes to consolidate its vote base with developmental claims and welfare measures, the Mahagathbandhan is expected to campaign strongly on issues of unemployment, corruption, and social justice.

A tight contest ahead

Analysts believe the Bihar Assembly polls will be a close fight. While Shah’s claim of 160 seats highlights the NDA’s confidence, the Opposition hopes to cash in on discontent among sections of the electorate.

The Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule later this year. As Bihar heads into election season, both alliances are sharpening their narratives, knowing that the outcome here could have wider national implications.