PM Modi’s “Shadow War” in Bihar Elections: Targeting Three Districts with One Rally

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Bhagalpur, Bihar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Bhagalpur on November 6, 2025, is being seen as a strategic masterstroke by the BJP. While the rally is held in Bhagalpur, its influence is expected to extend to neighboring districts Munger and Khagaria, where voting is underway today. Political analysts are calling this approach a “shadow war,” as one speech aims to sway voters across multiple constituencies simultaneously — a case of “one arrow, three targets.”

Modi’s Rally and Its Objective
Addressing the public at the Bhagalpur airport grounds, PM Modi sought the support of voters in seven Bhagalpur assembly constituencies to ensure a win for NDA candidates. The rally is also seen as crucial for consolidating NDA’s hold on constituencies won in the 2020 elections and attempting to reclaim those that were lost.

In 2020, NDA secured victories in five Bhagalpur constituencies:

• Bihpur: BJP’s Kumar Shailendra won by 6,000 votes.
• Gopalpur: JDU’s Gopal Mandal defeated RJD’s Shailesh Mandal by nearly 24,000 votes.
• Pirpainti: BJP’s Lalan Paswan defeated RJD’s Ramvilas Paswan by 27,000 votes (now with RJD).
• Kahalgaon: BJP’s Pawan Yadav defeated Congress’s Shubanand Mukesh by around 43,000 votes.
• Sultanganj: JDU’s Lalit Mandal defeated Congress’s Lalan Kumar by 12,000 votes.

NDA had lost Bhagalpur city seat, where Congress’s Ajit Sharma defeated BJP’s Rohit Pandey by approximately 1,000 votes, and RJD’s Ali Ashraf Siddiqui won over JDU’s Laxmikant Mandal by over 7,000 votes.

Impact on Neighboring Districts
While Modi’s address is in Bhagalpur, political experts predict its influence may extend to seven assembly constituencies in Munger and Khagaria districts.

• Munger (3 seats):
• Tarapur: Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary (BJP) vs RJD’s Arun Kumar
• Munger: BJP’s Kumar Pranay vs Avinash Vidyarthi
• Jamalpur: JDU’s Nachiketa Mandal vs Congress’s Narendra Kumar
• Khagaria (4 seats):
• Gadaria: JDU’s Bablu Kumar vs Congress’s Chandan Kumar
• Alouli: JDU’s Ramchandra Sada vs RJD’s Ramvriksh Sada
• Parbatta: LJP’s Babulal Shaurya vs RJD’s Dr. Sanjeev Kumar
• Beldour: JDU’s Pannalal Patel vs Congress’s Mithilesh Nishad

By holding the rally in a district adjacent to voting constituencies, BJP aims to maximize its influence beyond Bhagalpur — an election strategy that combines optics, outreach, and psychological impact in what political commentators are dubbing a “shadow war.”