Patna: As the nomination process for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections gets underway, the latest C-Voter survey has delivered a snapshot of shifting public sentiment — and the findings may unsettle the ruling camp.
RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav continues to lead the race for the Chief Minister’s chair, with 36.3% support, while Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has consolidated his position in second place at 23.2%, edging further ahead of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who trails with just 15.9% support.
The October survey, released on Friday, shows that while Tejashwi’s popularity has stabilised after months of fluctuation, Nitish’s numbers have steadily eroded, and Kishor’s outsider appeal appears to be gaining traction.
“The public mood suggests fatigue with traditional governance and a growing curiosity about alternative politics,” a political analyst told PatnaPress. “Tejashwi retains his core support, but Kishor is increasingly being viewed as a credible disruptor.”
Tejashwi Yadav’s resurgence
The C-Voter Bihar Preferred Chief Ministerial Candidate Survey — conducted monthly during the election year — shows Tejashwi Yadav regaining lost ground since his dip in mid-2025. After peaking above 40% in February, his approval fell to 31.3% in August but has since rebounded to 36.3% in October.
Observers attribute the rebound to Yadav’s consistent campaign narrative around unemployment and price rise, coupled with his strong grassroots connect as the Leader of the Opposition.
Kishor’s slow but steady climb
Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor — who launched his Jan Suraaj movement as a political alternative to both the NDA and the RJD-led Grand Alliance — has seen his popularity nearly double since February. From just 14.9% eight months ago, Kishor’s rating rose to 23.1% in September and has inched up further this month.
His meticulously planned grassroots outreach and anti-establishment rhetoric appear to be resonating, particularly among young voters and first-time participants.
Nitish Kumar’s decline
In contrast, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s graph continues its downward slide. Once the second-most-preferred CM candidate after Tejashwi, his approval has fallen consistently over recent months — from over 20% earlier this year to 15.9% now. Analysts say this decline reflects both anti-incumbency and voter fatigue with Nitish’s repeated shifts in alliances.
Other leaders lag behind
Among other contenders, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan ranks fourth, though his rating dropped from 9.5% in September to 8.8% in October. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has moved up slightly, from 6.8% to 7.8%, possibly due to his increasing visibility within the BJP’s state campaign.
Survey methodology
According to India TV, which reported the survey, C-Voter interviewed 2,530 respondents across Bihar on October 9 and 10, gathering views from all regions of the state. The survey reflects early trends as Bihar heads into what is expected to be one of the most closely contested Assembly elections in recent years.
With two phases of polling scheduled for November 6 and 11, and counting on November 14, these latest numbers suggest a volatile electorate — one where Tejashwi Yadav’s populist edge, Nitish Kumar’s fading appeal, and Prashant Kishor’s outsider promise could shape the contours of the upcoming political battle.
