Bihar elections: SWOT analysis of Congress-RJD alliance

The political battleground is set for a high-stakes contest in the state between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led opposition India Bloc. Both the camps are preparing for a direct electoral contest in this politically important state.

Below is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the India Bloc led by the RJD-Congress alliance.

Strength

Solid Core Vote Bank: The RJD has a loyal Muslim-Yadav (MY) support base, which collectively constitutes about 30% of the voters.

Emerging Leadership: With the withdrawal of RJD founder Lalu Prasad, the party has positioned his son Tejashwi Yadav as its undisputed leader. Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi has gained popularity among the youth of Bihar.

Revived Congress Cadre: Congress’s Voter Adhikar Yatra under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi has helped in energizing party workers and improving grassroots engagement across the state.

weaknesses

Dynasty control and legal troubles: The RJD continues to be dominated by Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav and close family members – many of whom are facing legal challenges, including ongoing investigations such as the “land-for-jobs” scam probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Internal discord: Despite Tejashwi’s growing acceptance among party workers, the constant anger and erratic behavior of siblings and other family members like Tej Pratap Yadav often diverts his attention away from the party and alliance management towards internal fighting.

opportunity

Generational change: Tejashwi’s youthful image gives India Bloc an opportunity for a comprehensive image makeover. His focus on job creation, migration and law and order impressed the aspirational voters of the state.

Benefits of caste census: While the ruling NDA claims credit for the caste survey conducted two years ago, RJD’s participation in the government during that period – and its role in increasing the quota for deprived communities – may strengthen its “mandal politics” credentials.

Alliance Synergy: Partnership with like-minded parties like Congress and CPI (ML) Liberation, coupled with Nitish Kumar’s recent return to the NDA, could help RJD consolidate Muslim votes and attract marginalized groups.

threats

Internal ambitions and alliance tensions: After being out of power for a long time, the Indian faction faces the dual challenge of managing ambitious leaders within itself and maintaining unity among the various coalition partners.