Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to officially kick off his campaign for the upcoming Bihar elections on October 24, rallying support for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates. This announcement came from State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal on Sunday, October 19, 2025.
The Prime Minister’s inaugural rally will take place in Samastipur district, a significant location as it is the birthplace of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. As part of his visit, he will also pay respects at Karpoorigram, the ancestral home of the revered Bharat Ratna recipient.
Following his visit to Samastipur, Mr. Modi is scheduled to address another election rally in Begusarai on the same day. Furthermore, his itinerary includes a return to Bihar on October 30 for rallies in Muzaffarpur and Chapra. Additional campaign dates are set for November 2, 3, 6, and 7, with more details to be announced subsequently, according to Mr. Jaiswal.
Addressing potential scheduling conflicts, Mr. Jaiswal clarified that the Prime Minister’s visit would avoid the Chhath Puja period. He explained, ‘The Prime Minister wished to be present during Chhath Puja, but concerns over potential disruptions and security challenges for devotees necessitated a change in his schedule.’
In addition to the Prime Minister’s rallies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to hold approximately 25 rallies across Bihar. Other prominent Union Ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, are also expected to participate in a similar number of campaign events.
The BJP had previously unveiled its roster of 40 ‘star campaigners’ on October 16. This formidable list includes national figures like Prime Minister Modi, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, and Union Ministers Shah and Singh. It also features five BJP Chief Ministers, specifically Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma, Delhi’s Rekha Gupta, and Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis, alongside popular Bhojpuri entertainers Pawan Singh, Manoj Tiwary, and Ravi Kishan.
Union Minister Amit Shah commenced his individual campaign efforts from Saran on October 17.
In a contrasting narrative, Mr. Jaiswal critically remarked on the internal discord within the Mahagatbandhan, or ‘grand alliance,’ regarding seat allocation and ticket distribution. He highlighted the NDA’s unity, likening its five constituent parties—the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM)—to the ‘five Pandavas’ who have amicably resolved their seat-sharing. Conversely, he depicted the ‘grand alliance’ as a ‘Kaurava Army’ plagued by internal strife.
Flanked by national spokesperson Guru Prakash and State media in-charge Danish Iqbal, Mr. Jaiswal underscored the public’s skepticism, stating that the people of Bihar are questioning how the grand alliance intends to govern if they cannot even agree on seat-sharing amongst themselves.
Mr. Jaiswal further claimed that the electorate in Bihar is determined to reinstate an NDA government. He added, ‘The citizens are closely scrutinizing the character and conduct of the grand alliance, particularly the alleged ‘money game’ involved in their ticket distribution process.’
The Bihar elections will proceed in two phases: the first on November 6 and the second on November 11, with the election results scheduled for announcement on November 14.