Veterans take centre stage in Bihar political battleground

In line with the local adage ‘saatha so paatha (men are hale and hearty even at sixty)’ Bihar's politics has always rewarded endurance more than novelty. Even as younger faces crowd the political arena, a formidable band of veteran leaders—many well past 70—continues to shape the state's electoral story. Age, far from being a liability, has become a marker of political weight.

- Sanjeev K Jha

Sample this: Bijendra Prasad Yadav of JD(U) and Prem Kumar of BJP have won every assembly election since 1990, weathering shifting alliances, changing caste equations, and the rise of digital campaigns. Their staying power reflects not just personal popularity but the trust they have built across generations of voters.