Patna: As the Bihar Assembly election campaign gains momentum, two of Uttar Pradesh’s biggest political faces—Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav—have taken centre stage in the state’s political battlefield. While both leaders are actively leading their respective alliances, all eyes are now on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, who has yet to make her appearance on the campaign trail.
According to party sources, Mayawati is set to begin her Bihar campaign from November 6, with plans for over two dozen rallies across key western districts including Kaimur, Rohtas, Ara, and Buxar. The BSP aims to tap into its traditional “silent voter” base and influence the Dalit and backward-class vote through local candidates. However, her extended silence so far has left political observers puzzled, as other major players have already hit the ground running.
Yogi’s High-Octane Campaign
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has emerged as one of the most visible star campaigners for the BJP and the NDA alliance. Over the past week, he has addressed packed rallies in Siwan, Vaishali, and Bhojpur, bringing with him the trademark mix of Hindutva appeal and development narrative that has defined his politics in Uttar Pradesh.
In his speeches, Yogi has drawn parallels between Uttar Pradesh’s “zero-tolerance” stance on crime, infrastructure push, and “bulldozer politics” and the model he envisions for Bihar. At rallies in Raghunathpur (Siwan), Shahpur, and Buxar, he took direct aim at the RJD, portraying the NDA as a coalition capable of ensuring law and order, jobs, and improved infrastructure.
Even intermittent rainfall failed to dampen the enthusiasm of BJP workers, who see Yogi’s presence as key to consolidating votes in Bihar’s border districts where his popularity extends beyond state lines. His campaign has injected fresh momentum into the NDA’s closing phase of electioneering.
Akhilesh Rallies for the Mahagathbandhan
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has launched an equally energetic campaign on behalf of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). Beginning his tour on November 1, Akhilesh is scheduled to address more than half a dozen rallies, rallying support for alliance candidates alongside Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav.
Their joint rallies are being seen as a show of unity and strength among opposition ranks. Akhilesh has focused his campaign on employment, social justice, and the need for a “sensitive and progressive” government in Bihar.
In his speeches across East Champaran, Siwan, and Kaimur, the SP chief has invoked his development experience in Uttar Pradesh, pledging a similar model for Bihar. He has also taken sharp jabs at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling him “the BJP’s electoral groom”, adding heat to the campaign narrative.
The SP, which is part of the INDIA bloc, has fielded candidates in only nine constituencies under the seat-sharing arrangement with the Mahagathbandhan. These include Kalyanpur (East Champaran), Raghunathpur (Siwan), and Bhabhua (Kaimur) among others. SP’s candidate list reflects careful caste and regional balance, with an emphasis on backward and minority-dominated constituencies.
Mayawati’s Calculated Silence
While Yogi and Akhilesh have already made their presence felt, Mayawati’s absence from the Bihar campaign trail has raised eyebrows. The BSP has finalized its list of candidates and a detailed campaign itinerary, yet the party chief has not addressed a single rally so far.
Party insiders suggest Mayawati’s campaign will focus on reviving the BSP’s base among Dalits and extremely backward classes, leveraging local-level outreach and disciplined grassroots mobilisation. However, analysts point out that her prolonged silence has created uncertainty among potential BSP voters, especially in districts where the party once enjoyed significant support during the 2005 and 2010 Assembly elections.
Mayawati’s strategy appears to be one of late entry—targeting western Bihar’s caste-sensitive seats where her party has maintained quiet networks. With the BSP banking on the “silent voter” factor, her arrival on the campaign stage could yet alter the equations in select constituencies.
The Road Ahead
As Bihar’s multi-phase election enters its crucial stages, the presence of three heavyweights from Uttar Pradesh has underscored the interlinked nature of politics in the Hindi heartland. Yogi Adityanath’s aggressive Hindutva pitch, Akhilesh Yadav’s call for inclusive development, and Mayawati’s upcoming bid to reconnect with her base are likely to define the closing days of the campaign.
With polling across 243 Assembly constituencies underway, the question that lingers in Bihar’s charged political atmosphere is clear—after Yogi and Akhilesh, when will Mayawati finally step into the ring?
