BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM- BIHAR
In the heated landscape of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, I witnessed a wave of political energy unlike anything the state has seen in recent years. One of the clearest voices in this charged atmosphere has been that of Shri Akhilesh Yadav, representing the INDIA bloc with confidence, clarity, and conviction. His rallies across Bihar, from Aurangabad and Rohtas to Sitamarhi, Chhapra and other key districts, have attracted sea-like crowds, sending a powerful message: Bihar is restless, Bihar is watching, and Bihar wants change.
Standing among thousands who gathered to listen to him, I could sense a new urgency. Akhilesh Yadav did not simply deliver speeches, he spoke to the soul of Bihar’s youth, its farmers, and its struggling middle class. With directness and emotion, he asserted that Bihar has been denied its share of development, dignity, and employment. “The future of Bihar has been looted,” he declared, “and this election is about reclaiming it.”
His critique of the ruling establishment was sharp and unapologetic. He challenged the government on inflation, unemployment, and the migration of Bihar’s brightest minds to other states in search of livelihood. He struck a powerful chord with young aspirants by declaring that a vote against the BJP is a vote for permanent jobs and dignity, and that the INDIA bloc would end the four-year Agniveer contract system, restoring full-term military recruitment. He also promised laptops for students, not as freebies, but as tools of empowerment.
Akhilesh’s remarks on governance failures were equally biting. Farmers struggling for DAP and urea, allegations of mismanagement at the highest levels, he painted a picture of a state demanding accountability. His satirical comment about a “one-tone chief minister who supervises sack-theft” drew laughter, but it came layered with the pain of genuine agricultural distress.
Yet, this election narrative is not one-sided. The other side of Bihar’s political story is filled with concerns voiced by citizens and opposition leaders over the electoral process itself. As reports and visuals emerged from certain polling areas, showing VVPAT paper slips scattered and unattended, questions began to surface. Opposition parties and many voters publicly expressed apprehension that the Election Commission of India, once held as the pillar of electoral neutrality, is being perceived as tilted toward ensuring a favourable outcome for the ruling party.
Many believe that the machinery of democracy should not only be fair, but must also appear fair, and in pockets of Bihar, that perception is under strain. These concerns, even if under investigation or yet to be formally validated, represent a crucial element of the electoral mood. Democracy breathes not only through ballots but through trust, and trust today stands at the centre of Bihar’s political debate.
Akhilesh in his rally, reminded the crowd that Bihar has stopped political chariots before, and can do so again. Walking away from the ground, amid the roar of slogans and rising hope, I felt a rising tide in Bihar’s heart. This state, long burdened by neglect and political exploitation, is not merely voting in 2025, it is asserting its voice. And whether one stands with the government or the opposition, one truth echoes louder than all: Bihar is awake, Bihar is questioning, and Bihar is ready to decide its future with pride and clarity. The days ahead will not just declare winners, they will test the very spirit of India’s democracy.
