Who’s Bihar’s Top CM Pick? Pre-Poll Survey Shows Tejashwi Leading, Nitish, Prashant Kishor Trailing
According to the India Today-CVoter survey, Tejashwi Yadav, son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, has emerged as the most preferred chief ministerial candidate in the state.
In the run-up to the assembly elections in Bihar, a recent opinion poll has shown an advantage for opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, with the RJD leader projected to lead against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the preferred CM face in the state.
The CVoter survey has showed Tejashwi Yadav leading the race for the preferred CM candidate in Bihar with 36.9 per cent approval rating.
Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar, who has been at the helm of affairs in Bihar, is leading at the second position, with approval rating of 18.4 per cent.
The opinion poll comes much ahead of the 2025 assembly polls where the Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD, Congress and Left parties, is set to take on the ruling NDA alliance of the BJP, Nitish's JD(U) and LJP (RV).
Poll strategist-turned politician Prashant Kishore, who launched his party Jan Suraaj last year, is at the third spot with 16.4 per cent rating.
It is pertinent to note that the difference between Nitish and his bete noire Kishore is only 2 per cent.
Nitish Kumar has been the longest serving chief minister of Bihar, who has held the CM's post since 2005, except for a brief period in 2014-2015.
Next on the preferred CM list is Chirag Paswan, who is expected to contest Bihar elections in alliance with the NDA. Though Paswan has remained an NDA ally, he went alone in the 2020 polls, pitching candidates only in seats where JD(U) candidates contested.
Chirag has an approval rating of 10.6 per cent. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary is also on the list with an approval rating of 6.6 per cent. The CVoter data was based on the survey poll conducted in May.
Most Preferred CM Face in May 2025
Tejashwi Yadav – 36.9%
Nitish Kumar – 18.4%
Prashant Kishor – 16.4%
Chirag Paswan – 10.6%
Samrat Choudhary – 6.6%
Voting is set to take place across 243 assembly seats in Bihar in elections scheduled to be held sometime in October or November this year. In the upcoming elections, the Election Commission is likely to conduct the state polls in 2 to 3 phases.
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