The issue of unemployment will pose a challenge for the in the Bihar elections.

The Election Commission has officially announced the dates for the Bihar Assembly elections. The first phase will be held for 121 seats in North Bihar, while the second phase will be held for 122 seats in South Bihar. The first phase will be held on November 6th, approximately a week after the Chhath Puja festival. During this festival, Biharis across the country return home on leave. The second phase of the elections will be held on November 11th. The counting of votes for the assembly elections will take place on November 14th. With only a month left for campaigning, the electoral tide is turning and the key issues in the Bihar elections will determine the outcome on November 14th. Approximately 30 million young voters cast their ballots in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections. In the 2025 assembly elections, approximately 40 million young voters will cast their ballots. According to the voter list released in January 2025, the number of young voters between the ages of 18 and 39 is 4 crore, or 60% of the total electorate. Consequently, young voters will play a crucial role in this assembly election. Therefore, all political parties are working to woo them. The issue of unemployment is crucial in the Bihar assembly elections. Despite being in power for 20 years, the NDA government is now facing an unprecedented anti-incumbency wave. The primary reason behind this is the lack of employment opportunities. However, according to NITI Aayog, the unemployment rate in the state was 3.9% in 2022-23. Bihar is primarily an agricultural and rural state, and the unemployment rate is high here. This is why the youth, the architects of the state’s future, are now disappointed. Their dreams of employment are being dashed due to the government’s inaction. This silent wave of youth discontent can be clearly felt throughout the Bihar election atmosphere. It is forcing voters to question the foundation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s long rule. Anti-incumbency sentiment is primarily driven by unemployed youth, who are largely alienated. Youth are forced to migrate from the state in search of employment. While they have education, they lack jobs. Meanwhile, the economic situation of most Biharis is weak, and laborers, small farmers, and informal workers are struggling to make ends meet. Job creation is urgently needed in Bihar. It’s worth noting that 31.6 million Biharis have registered on the government’s e-Shram portal in search of jobs, second only to Uttar Pradesh. However, to woo voters, all political parties have begun making increasingly attractive promises. Meanwhile, opposition parties have begun attacking the current NDA government on the issue of unemployment and corruption in the state. With the counting of votes on November 14th, about a month from now, it will be clear who will rule for the next five years.