Bihar Elections 2025: Chirag Paswan redefines 'MY equation', says his alliance stands for Mahila and Yuva

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has extended its support to Independent candidate Ravi Paswan, son of veteran leader Chhedi Paswan, from the Mohania constituency on Wednesday (October 22). This move comes hours after RJD’s official candidate, Shweta Suman, was disqualified from contesting the polls. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission canceled her nomination papers, leaving the party without a candidate from the seat. READ

Bhagirath Manjhi, son of 'Mountain Man' Dashrath Manjhi, on Wednesday alleged that he was denied a Congress ticket for the Bihar assembly polls despite an assurance from party leader Rahul Gandhi. Speaking to reporters, Bhagirath Manjhi claimed he had stayed in Delhi for four days, met the leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and submitted the required documents, but was not given a ticket. "I had requested Rahul Gandhi for an assembly ticket. He had assured me that I would get one, but it did not happen. I had sought a ticket either from Barachhati or Bodh Gaya. Everyone else got tickets, but not me," Manjhi said.

The BJP accused RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav of attempting to fool the people of Bihar by making unrealistic poll promises and also targeted Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, exhorting people to give their mandate to the "tried and tested" leadership of NDA instead of falling for Mahagathbandhan's ploy or "any new experimental politics". BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi termed Yadav's poll promises a "cruel joke" as he raised questions on the RJD leader's "intentions" behind making such "lofty promises", which would require funds way higher than the current budget of the Bihar government.

Former RJD leader Anil Sahani, who was disqualified from the Bihar assembly three years ago after a CBI court convicted him in a fraud case, joined the BJP here on Wednesday. Sahani was inducted into the saffron party in the presence of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the party's in-charge for assembly polls, and national general secretary Vinod Tawde. The CBI court in Delhi had held him guilty of submitting forged air tickets in 2012 when the RJD leader was a Rajya Sabha MP, to avail Leave Travel Concession without having undertaken the journeys.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan criticised the Congress party for what he described as its "non-serious" approach towards the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections 2025. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader specifically targeted Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, who has been appointed the party’s in-charge for Bihar. “I am happy that someone serious has come here. I respect Ashok Gehlot a lot, but he realised very late that he had been made the election in-charge. This shows that Bihar is not among the priorities of the Congress party,” Paswan said during a public event. "How can you say that it is okay to have friendly fight on some seats?... This non-seriousness is going to be the major reason for the defeat of the Mahagathbandhan," Paswan added. 

Addressing a public rally in Bihar, Union Minister Chirag Paswan took a sharp jibe at the opposition's traditional 'MY equation' - a political formula referring to Muslim-Yadav consolidation - and offered his own inclusive interpretation of the term. "What is Mahagathbandhan’s MY equation?” he asked the crowd. "Their M divides Biharis along communal lines, and their Y divides them along ethnic lines. But our MY equation is different. Our M stands for Mahila (women), who represent not just the nation but the entire world. Our Y stands for Yuva (youth), the young generation who are the future of this country and beyond," Paswan said, drawing applause. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief asserted that his alliance wants to move beyond caste, creed, and religion, focusing instead on empowerment and opportunity. "Every Bihari youth should get employment. Every Bihari woman should get respect. The elderly should get their rights. Farmers and labourers must get their due," he said, outlining his vision for a more inclusive Bihar.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot met RJD president Lalu Prasad today, apparently with the mandate to defuse tensions with the ally, which has plunged the I.N.D.I.A bloc into turmoil in poll-bound Bihar. Emerging after the meeting, Gehlot said winning Bihar was "extremely important" for the opposition alliance, after having been drubbed in a crucial state like Maharashtra, but evaded a direct reply when asked whether the Congress was ready to declare the RJD chief's son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate. 

Even though the saffron party has emerged stronger in the state, its top leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, have backed incumbent Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar to lead the alliance in the state, after initial reluctance. Click here to read more.

BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi has criticised RJD Tejashwi Yadav's poll announcement for Jeevika Didis and contractual workers, and said that the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly should stop joking with the people of the state. 

He said: "After Nitish Kumar's government came to power in Bihar, many schemes for women's empowerment have been running in the state. Govt schemes from Har Ghar Sauchalaya, to Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, to Mudhra Yojaya, Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi are evidence of our thinking of 10 years... For women empowerment, NDA and Nitish ji have a methodical, consistent and pragmatic approach...Tejaswhi ji said he will give 10 lakh jobs, but its actual meaning is that they will give a job for (Rs) 10 lakhs. It means now they will take house and property for a job, like earlier they took land for a job."

According to the seat-sharing pact chalked out by the ruling alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United (JD-U) will contest 101 seats each, while smaller allies like Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) have been given 29, six and six seats, respectively. Click here to read more.

The nomination of RJD candidate Shweta Suman from the Kaimur Mohaniya assembly constituency has been cancelled. The nomination was cancelled by the Election Commission as Suman had shown her native place as Chandauli district in Uttar Pradesh during the 2020 Bihar elections, but in the 2025 elections, she listed her residence in Bihar. Click here to read more.

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said he had a good meeting with RJD leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav over seat-sharing, and the Mahagathbandhan will hold a crucial press conference on Thursday.

"We had a good discussion with Lalu ji and Tejashwi Yadav. There is a press conference tomorrow, and everything will be clear. We are going to contest strongly against the NDA. Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav will start the election campaign together. There are 243 seats in Bihar, and at times, there can be a friendly fight on 5-7 seats. We will campaign together and win the elections," he said.

RJD candidate from Mohania assembly constituency, Shweta Suman's nomination was cancelled on Wednesday, giving a massive jolt to the Mahagathbandhan.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan has reiterated his support for Nitish Kumar and said that the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader will be chose as Bihar chief minister once again by the elected MLAs after the assembly polls in the state. Click here to read more.

Union Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan said on Sunday that incumbent Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is like a 'guardian' to him and he has learnt a lot from the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader. In an exclusive interview with India TV, Paswan clarified that he doesn't have an issue with Kumar, stressing that he is trying to forget what happened during the 2020 Bihar elections. Click here to read more.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan has questioned Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor for not contesting the elections. 

"If you can't lead from the front, how will the party believe in you? Prashant ji's decision will break the confidence of their party workers. If the leader does not have the capability to come in front and lead from the front, then why will their workers work for the party, and why will people show faith in him?" he said.

Questioning the absence of Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Chirag Paswan said that it the moral responsibility of the Congress MP and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to clear bottlenecks in the Mahagathbandhan. 

He said: "There is so much going on in their alliance (Mahagathbandhan), and where is Rahul Gandhi? Was it not the moral responsibility of Rahul ji and Tejashwi Yadav to sit together and clear bottlenecks in the alliance? This shows a lack of seriousness on the part of Congress. No matter what they do, the reality is that after November 14, the NDA will form the government in Bihar. The people of Bihar have understood that if the Mahagathbandhan cannot keep together the five parties in an alliance, then they will not be able to keep Bihar united."

Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Krishna Allavaru have arrived at the residence of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), and the Communist Party of India (CPI) will lock-horns against each other on 12 constituencies, including Vaishali, Sultanganj and Bachhwara. Click here to read more.

On his poll announcement for Jeevika Didis and contractual workers, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that there is a need to eradicate unemployment in Bihar.

"Without study, without scientific research, without consulting the experts, we do not make any announcement. Economic justice should be done. People should get employment. We have to eradicate unemployment," he said. 

Ahead of his meeting with Tejashwi Yadav, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that the Mahagathbandhan is firm in its fight against the NDA. 

He said: "Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, focusing on 243 seats. There are friendly fights, and that happens in all other states as well. Mahagathbandha remains firm against the BJP and JD(U)."

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday denied about the Mahagathbandhan having a dispute over seat-sharing. 

"There are no disputes. You will get all the answers tomorrow," he said. 

In another major poll promise ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday announced giving permanent government jobs with a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 to all 'Jeevika CM Didis' in the state if the Mahagathbandhan is voted to power. Click here to read more.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot will hold a crucial meeting with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav at the latter's residence in Patna at noon on Wednesday, said sources.

At a press conference in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that contract workers will get permanent jobs if the Mahagathbandhan comes to power in Bihar.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also said that the Mahagathbandhan will increase the salary of Jeevika Didis to Rs 30,000 if it comes to power in the state.

He said: "All of you are aware that injustice was done to the Jeevika Didis under this government... We have decided that all the Jeevika CM (Community Mobilisers) Didis will be made permanent and they will be given the status of a government employee. We will also increase their salary to Rs 30,000 per month. This is not an ordinary announcement. This has been the demand of Jeevika Didis."

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has said that the grand alliance, if comes to power in Bihar, will provide an insurance up to Rs 5 lakh. 

At a press conference in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday that the Mahagathbandhan, if comes to power in Bihar, will provide permanent jobs to Jeevika Didis in the state.

At a press conference in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has said that Jeevika Didi were tortured a lot in Bihar.

At a press conference in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said that the people of Bihar are sick of the double-engine government. 

Speaking at a press conference in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said people of Bihar want a change in the state. 

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is addressing a press conference in Patna.

In a major setback for Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), party's women's wing state president Ritu Jaiswal has filed her nomination on Monday as an independent candidate from the Parihar constituency for the crucial assembly elections in Bihar. Launching a rebellion against the party, Jaiswal said she was denied a ticket and has called it a 'betrayal' by the RJD leadership. Click here to read more.

Independent MP Pappu Yadav has said that Nitish Kumar is not the chief minister in Bihar and the contest is between PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi. 

"We want the INDIA alliance to be formed (in Bihar). I am clear that in every situation we need to fight elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. In this election, there is Rahul Gandhi on one side and Narendra Modi on the other. Nitish Kumar is not the CM face in this election," he said.

Congress leader Rakesh Sinha has said that the JMM will not attend Mahagathbandhan's press conference on Wednesday.

"I believe that since this is a joint press conference of the alliance, any turmoil will be resolved... JMM will not attend the press conference, but we hope that the JMM Chief Minister will definitely go to Bihar to campaign in favour of the mahagathbandhan... Congress has always made sacrifices for the alliance... So if anyone accuses us of not supporting the alliance, that is wrong," he said. 

JMM leader Manoj Pandey has slammed the RJD and the Congress after their party was not accommodated in seat-sharing agreement for the Bihar polls.

"Since we have exited the elections, we are probably not even in the alliance in Bihar. We were not considered worthy of that... Our sentiments have been hurt somewhere, and Hemant Soren showed our big heart... We have been treated unfairly... The mentality displayed by RJD and Congress is unfortunate... If someone arrogantly thinks that they are enough alone, then what is the point of an alliance?" he told news agency ANI.

The Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance includes the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (ML) Liberation, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). According to an analysis, they have fielded candidates against each other on at least 12 seats, a move that may split the votes among them and give an advantage to the ruling alliance. Click here to read more.

A protest has erupted in Bihar's Bhagalpur. The protest has been launched by the Muslim community and it is being reported that some shops have also been vandalised.  

Questioning the Mahagathbandhan, BJP's Bihar unit president Dilip Jaiswal has said that the grand alliance is divided over seats and has termed it 'maha-latth-bnandhan'.

"The way the mahagathbandhan has divided seats and selected candidates, the people and voters of Bihar are now calling it the 'maha-latth-bnandhan'... What does 'friendly fight' mean in an election?" he told news agency ANI.

JD-U working president Sanjay Jha has questioned the Mahagathbandhan over its inability to finalise the seat-sharing agreement in Bihar. "There was never any discontent within the NDA. We announced everything after proper discussions...This is a very big moment for Bihar, I believe that these five years will decide where Bihar will stand in the coming 20-25 years as Bihar is at a pick-off stage... Everything happened very smoothly... On the other hand in the Mahagathbandhan, there is no idea, there is confusion... There was never any confusion in the NDA," he told news agency ANI.  

Hitting out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary has said that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is not a factor in the state elections. "Show me one person who is saying that their vote has been cut... These people basically want to protect infiltrators... It's Mamata Didi's grace that the border isn't being closed... It's Mamata's blessing and the blessings of the Left governments that 150-kilometer of our border remains open. Our three states are being ruined by it," he said.

Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor has also taken a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Bihar visit on October 24 and said him visiting the state is nothing new. "He has been coming to Bihar for the past four months. This is nothing new...PM Modi should tell from the 110 candidates of the BJP, tickets have been given to how many leaders from the extremely backward class," he told news agency ANI.

Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor has attacked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and said that he has nothing to do with Bihar. "Rahul Gandhi was only active in Bihar as he wanted to take maximum seats from the RJD by putting pressure on them," he told news agency ANI. 

The Mahagathbandhan has not been able to finalise the seat-sharing pact and the alliance members have declared candidates against each other on at least 12 seats. It is expected that the alliance may throw some light on this during its Wednesday's press conference.

It is expected that the top leaders of the RJD, Congress, Vikassheel Insaan Party and the Left parties will attend the press conference in Patna on Wednesday.

The Mahagathbandhan will hold a joint press conference in Patna on Wednesday. The alliance will start its election campaigning after the press conference.