Bihar Assembly Election 2025: Mahagathbandhan Forms Four Key Committees Ahead of May 4 Strategy Meet

KKN Gurugram Desk | In a significant political development ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections, the opposition alliance known as the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) has initiated the first phase of internal election planning by constituting four strategic committees. The decision was taken during the alliance’s second formal coordination meeting held recently in Patna.

Leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian National Congress, and other constituent parties participated in this closed-door meeting, which focused on outlining an initial roadmap for the election campaign.

Four Committees Formed to Tackle Key Election Fronts

Sources familiar with the matter confirm that the Mahagathbandhan has set up four core committees, each focused on a specific domain:

1. Election Strategy Committee

2. Campaign Coordination Committee

3. Media and Communication Committee

4. Manifesto Drafting Committee

These panels are expected to shape the alliance’s messaging, media outreach, on-ground coordination, and policy promises in the run-up to the polls.

Each party has been asked to submit names of senior leaders to be inducted into the respective committees. Final composition is expected to be confirmed by the next coordination meeting scheduled for May 4, 2025.

Strategic Planning Gains Momentum Among Opposition Ranks

The formation of these committees is seen as a tactical move by the Mahagathbandhan to streamline internal coordination and present a united front against the ruling NDA government led by the Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Senior alliance leaders privately acknowledge the lessons learned from the 2020 assembly elections, where fragmented messaging and lack of local-level coordination proved costly despite popular support.

“This time, we are acting early. The aim is to avoid confusion at constituency levels and work with better coordination from the top to the grassroots,” said a senior Congress leader who attended the meeting.

May 4 Meeting to Finalize Committee Membership and Next Phase of Action

The next Mahagathbandhan meeting on May 4 will be crucial. It is expected to formalize:

• The structure and leadership of all four committees

• Assignment of constituency responsibilities

• Integration of youth and social media teams

• Review of ground-level political feedback

The meeting will also review current political developments in Bihar and formulate a response to the state government’s recent policy decisions, particularly in sectors like education, unemployment, agriculture, and law & order.

Alliance Building Beyond Traditional Parties

While RJD and Congress remain the primary political pillars of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, the alliance is also exploring new political partnerships. The recent meeting discussed:

• Possible inclusion of left-wing parties such as CPI(ML), CPI, and CPM

• Dialogues with regional parties with OBC, Dalit, and minority vote banks

• Coordination with independent civil society groups to boost ground support

This expanded framework reflects the alliance’s intent to broaden its base and build a wider anti-incumbency narrative across communities.

Focus Areas for Each Committee: A Closer Look

Let’s examine the probable roles and tasks of each of the four newly formed committees:

1. Election Strategy Committee

This core panel will:

• Evaluate constituency-level data

• Identify vulnerable seats and strongholds

• Develop booth-level deployment plans

• Oversee alliances and seat-sharing negotiations

2. Campaign Coordination Committee

This group will:

• Plan rallies, yatras, and digital campaigns

• Coordinate between central and district units

• Synchronize with local workers for event management

3. Media and Communication Committee

Expected to play a crucial role in:

• Messaging on traditional and digital platforms

• Countering BJP-JD(U) narrative

• Producing video, print, and social media content

• Managing press conferences and debates

4. Manifesto Drafting Committee

Tasked with:

• Gathering policy input from local stakeholders

• Conducting youth and farmer consultations

• Drafting a people-centric vision document

• Positioning RJD-Congress agenda on employment, education, social justice

Ground Realities in Bihar: What’s Driving the Mahagathbandhan Strategy

Several factors are influencing the urgency in the Mahagathbandhan’s planning process:

🔹 Rising unemployment:

Bihar consistently ranks among the states with the highest youth unemployment rate, especially among educated youth. This is likely to be a central theme in the Mahagathbandhan’s campaign.

🔹 Agrarian distress:

Issues related to MSP, irrigation, and fertilizer access continue to plague farmers. The alliance plans to pitch itself as more farmer-friendly compared to the incumbent.

🔹 Law and order concerns:

Recent incidents of crime, particularly in urban centers like Patna and Muzaffarpur, have sparked debates around the failure of the Nitish Kumar-led administration in maintaining safety.

🔹 Education and migration:

Frequent teacher strikes and the lack of higher education institutions force thousands of students to migrate to Delhi, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, a narrative the opposition is keen to highlight.

Congress and RJD Coordination: A Test of Unity

In the past, coordination between the RJD and Congress has seen friction, especially over seat-sharing and campaign leadership. This time, senior leaders including Tejashwi Yadav and state Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh are personally overseeing alliance-building efforts to avoid past pitfalls.

Congress sources suggest that the party is likely to demand at least 70 seats in the 243-member assembly. However, RJD insiders maintain that the allocation will depend on winnability assessments, not just legacy claims.

Electoral Calendar: Countdown Begins

As per the Election Commission’s tentative calendar, Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 are expected to be held in October or early November. This leaves the Mahagathbandhan with roughly five to six months to organize cadre-level engagement and finalize candidates.

Party insiders believe that early committee formation will allow for:

• Better social media planning

• More robust volunteer recruitment

• Faster response to NDA’s campaign moves

Challenges Ahead: Seat Sharing, Candidate Credibility, Message Unity

Despite the momentum, political analysts warn of potential bottlenecks:

• Seat-sharing disagreements between old allies

• The perception of dynastic politics in RJD

• Limited presence of Congress in many rural belts

• Risk of message dilution due to too many voices

To overcome these, the committees will need discipline, grassroots integration, and real-time feedback loops.

The Mahagathbandhan’s second meeting and the formation of four strategic committees mark the beginning of what promises to be a high-voltage political contest in Bihar. With the NDA government on the defensive over unemployment, law and order, and rural discontent, the opposition sees an opening.

However, the real test lies in organizational execution, alliance discipline, and consistent messaging. The coming weeks—especially the May 4 meeting—will determine how effectively the Mahagathbandhan can transform strategy into electoral strength.