Bihar election 2025: Gen Z weighs job pledges, exams, and migration

Youth vote shapes a high stakes Bihar contest

Bihar, home to one of India’s youngest populations, has entered a decisive election in which the voices of first time and young voters carry unusual weight. Parties across the spectrum are trying to win over Gen Z with pledges of jobs, skill centers, and better education. Roughly a quarter of the state’s 74.2 million voters are in this cohort, and employment has become the defining theme of the campaign. Many young Biharis want a job close to home that pays enough to avoid migration to faraway cities. They have heard big promises before, and they are judging parties on credibility as much as ambition.

The contest is being held in two phases, on November 6 and November 11, with counting on November 14. The National Democratic Alliance seeks to retain power under the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies including Janata Dal United. The opposition Grand Alliance, centered around the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, wants to convert frustration over unemployment and stalled recruitments into votes for change. Newer formations, such as Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, are appealing to young voters by rejecting caste focused politics and promising a sharp focus on jobs and education.

Why jobs dominate the conversation

Young voters talk first about livelihoods, and for good reason. Bihar remains one of India’s poorest states and a major source of migrant workers. Official readings show improvements in some indicators, yet worries remain about the scarcity of stable, well paid local jobs. Skill centers and entrepreneurship schemes have expanded in recent years, but they have not met the scale of demand. Many families still depend on income sent home from other states where Biharis work in construction, services, and seasonal trades. Those trends make the job agenda more than an election talking point. It feels like a lifeline for a generation that wants to build a future at home.

There is also fresh political memory. In the last state election, job promises dominated rallies and debates. Since then, the state has seen repeated controversies over recruitment exams. Cancellations, paper leaks, and delays left many applicants angry and uncertain. Young people say they want timely, fair, and leak proof hiring. They want clarity on how many vacancies exist, when exams will be held, and how long merit lists remain valid. Such process issues sound technical, but they shape the reality of opportunity for millions of youth who see government service as the most reliable path to a middle class life.

The numbers behind the youth vote

Bihar’s electorate totals about 7.43 crore. Election Commission rolls indicate that 1.63 crore voters are in the 20 to 29 age group, and about 14.01 lakh are first time voters aged 18 to 19. That is about 1.77 crore in the 18 to 29 bracket, nearly a quarter of all voters. Broader demographic estimates suggest that around 58 percent of the population is under the age of 25. This is a digitally fluent cohort that grew up with smartphones and social media, and it is very quick to react to perceived injustice or administrative lapses in recruitment and education.

Public surveys from the last cycle reported unemployment and the absence of industry as the top concerns for many voters. Conversations on campuses and in coaching hubs echo that feeling today. The young are pragmatic. They look at paper leaks and delayed results and then measure the size of promises against the pace of delivery. Their vote can push margins significantly in closely fought seats, which is why both the NDA and the opposition are trying to turn youth frustration into either a vote for continuity with better delivery or a vote for change with faster delivery.

What parties are promising on jobs

The governing alliance has put jobs and skills at the center of its pitch. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) leaders have set out a target of 10 million jobs over five years, along with a network of skill centers. The NDA has highlighted measures such as interest free loans for students who pass Class 12 and pursue higher education, an unemployment allowance of 1,000 rupees for unemployed graduates, and a uniform 100 rupee fee for preliminary tests of all state competitive exams with no fee for mains. The message is that the state will keep expanding training and hiring while making recruitment fairer and cheaper to access.

The opposition’s standard bearer, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, has turned the jobs agenda into a personal pledge. He has promised at least one government job in every household if his alliance comes to power and has talked about a rapid timeline to deliver. He has also said he would establish a medical college and an engineering college in each district and expand polytechnic and paramedical institutes. Other youth facing proposals include a youth commission, a domicile policy, action against paper leaks, and exam forms without fees. His rallies have stressed dignity as much as income, and he tells crowds that young people should not have to leave home for education, health care, or work.

At a recent rally, the RJD leader sharpened the contrast with national issues and placed jobs front and center. Introducing himself as a leader focused on livelihoods, he cast the choice as a test of credibility on employment rather than a contest of rhetoric.

Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said: “The Prime Minister talks about weapons, I talk about employment. Give me a chance and I will make sure people do not have to leave Bihar for education, treatment, or jobs.”

Political strategist turned campaigner Prashant Kishor is challenging both blocs with Jan Suraaj. His platform promises to halt migration by generating enough jobs within a year and to overhaul schooling and governance systems. Many young voters like the clarity of that message. Others ask how such a rapid transformation would be executed and funded. Jan Suraaj has built a statewide network through padayatras and student outreach, but it still lacks the established machinery of older parties. Even so, it has inserted jobs and education into every local conversation, which is a measure of influence on its own.

Why many young voters remain skeptical

For a large share of Gen Z in Bihar, the hurdle is trust. They have heard big numbers before. In the past five years, cancelled examinations, paper leaks, and long gaps in recruitment have fueled anger. Coaching districts such as Mahendru in Patna are crowded with graduates preparing for government openings as teachers, clerks, constables, and junior engineers. Aspirants describe months of preparation followed by abrupt cancellations, then the expense of sitting for repeat exams. Many say they would accept slower job growth if recruitment is transparent, regular, and leak proof.

Analysts who track youth politics see frustration but also patience. They argue that the youth vote could swing seats if even a modest slice of angry aspirants decides to punish a party, yet they also note that anger is fragmented across caste, region, and occupation. Experts say that makes the youth bloc powerful but hard to consolidate.

DM Diwakar, a political expert who has studied Bihar’s social landscape, believes this election will test how deeply job anxieties cut across identity lines.

DM Diwakar said: “Gen Z is disappointed over their career prospects, and their role could be crucial in the assembly elections.”

BN Prasad, a social scientist from the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, sees no immediate risk of a large scale revolt, but he expects youth frustration to affect turnout and party margins.

BN Prasad said: “Frustration prevails among the young, and it will obviously impact polling. The question is how large that impact will be.”

Across districts, the refrain is consistent. Students want dates they can trust, centers they can reach, and results they can believe. Several say that even if new factories or service parks arrive slowly, a predictable calendar for government hiring would relieve anxiety and let them plan. Others have given up on government postings and are looking at private sales and delivery work, often outside the state, because those jobs pay more than casual labor at home.

Caste, women, and new signals from the ground

Caste remains one of the most powerful forces in Bihar politics. Parties still select candidates from dominant communities to consolidate local advantages. Many supporters vote within those social alignments regardless of policy agendas. That said, conversation in student hostels and coaching centers is shifting toward aspiration, especially on jobs and education. Some young voters say they will back any candidate who can fix recruitment timelines and improve schooling, even if that means crossing traditional alignments.

Women voters are again a vital base for the ruling alliance. Female literacy and mobility schemes, including the well known bicycle program for schoolgirls and cash support for continued education, raised visibility for girls’ education over the past decade. Both alliances are now pitching grants for women who want to start businesses, hoping to turn economic empowerment into votes. Younger women also say they care about safety, exam fairness, and teaching quality. Those concerns touch parties across the board and could nudge alliances to sharpen their education plans.

These cross currents point to a fragmented youth vote. Many first time voters still listen to family elders or local leaders who organize around caste. Others are more swayed by jobs, school quality, and the ease of getting government documents and services. That blend of identity and aspiration makes Bihar an unpredictable and competitive map.

Migration and the Bihar job puzzle

The attraction of job promises becomes clearer against the structural picture. Bihar’s per capita Net State Domestic Product for 2022 to 2023 stood at about 38,278 rupees, less than half the national average. Around 56 percent of the population works in agriculture, yet that sector contributes only about 18 to 19 percent of state output. Only six percent of workers are in manufacturing. Services employ roughly a third, but a large share of those jobs are informal and low paying. Youth unemployment runs higher in towns and small cities, with the urban youth unemployment rate around 10.8 percent in recent readings. Literacy is improving but still lags the national average at roughly 61.8 percent, and the gender gap remains wide.

These fundamentals help explain why Bihar sends so many migrants to other states. Construction booms in the west and south provide steady income to young men who might otherwise face seasonal farm work at home. Women who finish school often find few entry level opportunities nearby. Families rely on remittances, which stabilize household consumption but also underscore the lack of local jobs. When parties promise millions of new posts, students ask how these jobs will be created, which sectors will hire, and how quickly the state can fill vacant positions in education, health, and policing.

Scale is a challenge. A target of 10 million jobs over five years equals about 2 million per year, or roughly 166,000 each month. Some of this could come from regularizing and expanding public sector hiring, especially in schools, clinics, and police units. Part could come from speeding up infrastructure works that absorb semi skilled labor, including roads, bridges, irrigation, and housing. The rest depends on private enterprise. That means reliable power, serviced industrial land, faster clearances, and local training tied to factory and service sector needs. It also means fixing recruitment processes so that exams do not become flashpoints. Even the best promises will struggle if candidates do not trust the system that selects and appoints them.

Digital campaigning, turnout drives, and an unusual youth pitch

Rallies still draw crowds, but this has become a digital first election for many young voters. Instagram, YouTube, and X are central to the effort to reach students and first time voters. The opposition’s youth focused yatras have attracted visible participation in several districts. The BJP highlights the Prime Minister’s interactions with young entrepreneurs and students, and the NDA promotes schemes aimed at lowering the cost of education and exam preparation. Both sides are investing in short videos, student meets, and creator partnerships that speak the language of the smartphone era.

As phase one approached, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi released a video urging Gen Z to participate in large numbers and to be vigilant about the voting process. He framed the election as a test of youth responsibility and asked first time voters to treat their ballot as a safeguard for the Constitution.

Rahul Gandhi said: “The future of Bihar is in your hands. Defeat any attempt at vote theft, and protect your vote and your future.”

His remarks drew a sharp response from the government. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of trying to provoke the youth with claims that mislead the public about the election system. The Election Commission has denied allegations of large scale irregularities. The exchange reflects the high stakes that parties attach to youth turnout and the sensitivity around electoral management at a time when every seat counts.

Battlegrounds to watch in phase one and two

The first phase covered 121 seats across 18 districts on November 6. The second phase will decide the remaining constituencies on November 11. Several contests feature leaders who have placed youth and jobs at the heart of their speeches. These seats carry symbolic weight as well as strategic value for both alliances and for newer entrants.

Raghopur, Tejashwi Yadav’s test

Raghopur remains the stronghold of the Yadav family, and Tejashwi Yadav is defending it while seeking a statewide mandate as the opposition’s chief ministerial face. He has asked voters to judge him on the urgency he will bring to jobs and schooling. The BJP has fielded a strong opponent and questions the feasibility of his pledges. The Jan Suraaj candidate adds a third pole that courts youth on a message of clean governance and local jobs.

Tarapur, a comeback bid for Samrat Choudhary

Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary returned to contest Tarapur, a seat with a complex social mix where no single community can dominate. The RJD sees an opening after a narrow loss in a bypoll. Here, supporters talk about jobs, rising costs, and stability in almost the same breath, which captures the blend of aspiration and caution in many parts of the state.

Mahua, Tej Pratap Yadav on his own

Tej Pratap Yadav, contesting without the RJD banner after starting his own outfit, is trying to reclaim Mahua. The race tests whether personal appeal can overcome party machinery. Young voters in Mahua speak often about quality of colleges and better public services. Jobs remain central, but candidates are also pushed to explain how they will improve basic services that affect daily life.

Alinagar and Lakhisarai, new faces and old loyalties

In Alinagar, folk singer Maithili Thakur is the BJP’s youthful face. Her presence blends cultural pride with politics. Voters are weighing freshness against administrative experience. In Lakhisarai, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha seeks a sixth term. He points to continuity and experience. Challengers argue that a long tenure should translate into faster progress on jobs and safety. Both seats will signal how much the youth value experience versus a new face.

Arrah and Mokama, contests that shape narratives

Arrah often swings between camps and will again be watched as a barometer of development and law and order. Mokama, long influenced by strongman politics, is under scrutiny after the killing of a Jan Suraaj worker during the campaign. Candidates there have been forced to address the rule of law along with jobs, a pairing that has surfaced in many rural seats this cycle.

Can Bihar meet its job targets

Voters are not asking for miracles. They are asking for a plan that they can track. Three levers would matter most in the near term. First, fill sanctioned vacancies in education, health, and policing through a predictable exam calendar and firm safeguards against leaks. Second, match skill training to jobs that are actually coming to districts, not just to abstract curricula. That requires district level labor market mapping and partnerships with local employers in manufacturing, logistics, construction, and retail. Third, make it easier for small firms to expand. Faster approvals, cost effective industrial sheds, reliable power, and credit for working capital can turn micro enterprises into steady employers.

Progress on these points would not fix everything, but it would raise confidence. It would also buy time for larger projects. New industrial parks, logistics hubs near freight corridors, and investment in agro processing can lift non farm employment over several years. Tourism linked to heritage circuits and eco corridors can create local jobs if roads, sanitation, and safety improve in tandem. None of these sectors grow on slogans alone. They depend on administrative follow through, regular monitoring, and a transparent pipeline of projects that citizens can see.

What to Know

• Gen Z makes up about a quarter of Bihar’s 74.2 million voters, and jobs are their top concern.
• Voting is split across November 6 and November 11, with counting on November 14.
• NDA leaders tout job creation, skills, loans for students, and exam fee relief; JD(U) has set a 10 million jobs target.
• RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav promises one government job per household and more colleges in every district.
• Jan Suraaj appeals to youth with a pledge to end migration through rapid job creation and governance reforms.
• Recruitment exam leaks, cancellations, and delays have fueled youth skepticism toward big promises.
• Structural constraints persist: high dependence on agriculture, low manufacturing share, and lower literacy with a gender gap.
• Women remain a key constituency for the ruling alliance due to education and welfare schemes; both camps pitch grants for women entrepreneurs.
• Digital outreach is intense, with parties using short videos and student meets to mobilize the youth vote.
• Close contests in seats such as Raghopur, Tarapur, Mahua, Alinagar, Lakhisarai, Arrah, and Mokama will shape the final tally.