Amit Shah Declares NDA’s Certain Victory in Bihar, Says “Lalu-Rahul’s Game Will Be Over by 1 PM on November 14”

Samastipur, Oct 2025 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to win the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, confidently declaring that the fate of the opposition would be sealed early on counting day. Addressing a massive rally in Samastipur, Shah said, “I have toured the entire Bihar and seen huge crowds everywhere. Counting will begin at 8 AM on the 14th, the ballot boxes will be opened at 9 AM, and by 1 PM, Lalu and Rahul’s game will be over.”

Shah’s remarks came amid the final phase of campaigning, with the NDA projecting a strong show of unity among its allies. He likened the alliance to the ‘Panch Pandavas’ of the Mahabharata, asserting that the upcoming election was not just about forming a government but about “freeing Bihar from jungle raj (lawlessness).”

“The NDA is fighting this election together like the five Pandavas,” Shah said. “We have the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the youthful energy of Chirag Paswan, the lifelong dedication of Jitan Ram Manjhi, and the experience of Upendra Kushwaha. Even if they (the opposition) are more in number, our victory—like that of the Pandavas—is certain.”

The NDA, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha, has focused its campaign on unity, governance, and development. Shah emphasized that the coalition’s leadership represents strength across generations and communities.

Earlier in the day, while addressing another rally in Darbhanga, Shah launched a sharp attack on the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), accusing it of promoting dynastic politics over merit. Drawing a contrast, he highlighted the BJP’s decision to field young Maithili Thakur, a 25-year-old folk singer with no political background.

“We have given a ticket to Maithili Thakur, who comes from an ordinary family. Could this ever happen in the RJD or Congress?” Shah asked. “Lalu ji wants to make his son Tejashwi the Chief Minister, and Sonia ji wants to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister.”

Shah’s remarks were a direct counter to the Mahagathbandhan’s manifesto, released in Patna on Tuesday under the banner ‘Tejashwi’s Pledge for Bihar’. The document, unveiled by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Congress leaders, and allies, promises several welfare measures and policy shifts aimed at women, government employees, and minority institutions.

According to the manifesto, under the ‘Mai-Behan Maan Yojana’, women will receive ₹2,500 per month from December 1 for the next five years. The alliance also pledged to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a long-standing demand of government employees. The OPS was previously reinstated by the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh and featured in the party’s manifesto for the Haryana Assembly elections.

Another key promise in the opposition’s manifesto is to suspend the Waqf (Amendment) Act and ensure that the management of Waqf properties becomes more “welfare-oriented and transparent.”

The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, will be a high-stakes contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The RJD-led Grand Alliance includes the Congress Party, CPI (Marxist-Leninist), CPI, CPM, and Mukesh Sahani’s Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).

Adding to the complexity of the electoral landscape, political strategist Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj Party has also fielded candidates on all 243 assembly seats, aiming to position itself as a third alternative.

The counting of votes will take place on November 14, with results expected by the afternoon.

Shah’s confident tone reflected the NDA’s broader campaign narrative, which hinges on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity, Nitish Kumar’s administrative experience, and the collective strength of the alliance partners.

As the campaign enters its final stretch, the BJP is banking on developmental achievements, the law-and-order record of the Nitish-led government, and Modi’s national leadership to secure a clear majority.

Meanwhile, the opposition is betting on Tejashwi Yadav’s youth appeal, promises of social welfare, and criticism of unemployment and inflation to challenge the ruling coalition.

With both alliances intensifying their campaigns and regional dynamics playing a crucial role, the Bihar Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in recent years.

If Shah’s confidence is any indication, the NDA leadership believes that the combination of Modi’s popularity and coalition unity will once again carry them to victory — and, as he said emphatically, “By 1 PM on November 14, Lalu and Rahul’s game will be over.”