Nitish Kumar resurges in ‘Tiger abhi zinda hai’ poster, sets tone on eve of Bihar results

A striking poster of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with the caption *“Tiger abhi zinda hai”* (The tiger is still alive) appeared outside the Janata Dal (United) headquarters in Patna, drawing wide attention on the eve of the state assembly election results. The Bollywood-style slogan has set off political chatter, interpreted by supporters as a statement of resilience and by opponents as premature celebration ahead of the crucial vote count.

Political message behind the poster

The poster, installed late in the evening outside the JD(U) office on Veerchand Patel Marg, shows Nitish Kumar with folded hands, wearing his trademark white kurta-pyjama and a faint smile. Below him, in bold red letters, the line *“Tiger abhi zinda hai”* appears — a direct reference to the 2017 Bollywood film *Tiger Zinda Hai*, which carried the same tagline as a declaration of comeback and survival.

Party workers said the design and slogan were meant to boost morale among supporters as the coalition led by the JD(U) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) awaits results. The outgoing chief minister has faced tough competition from the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress.

Speaking to reporters near the party office, JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the poster symbolised Nitish Kumar’s “spirit of leadership and ability to bounce back”. He added, “Opponents have always counted out Nitish ji, but every time, he proves his relevance. The tiger is indeed alive and roaring.”

However, the timing of the poster has prompted political debate. Opposition leaders called it an attempt to influence the narrative ahead of the counting. RJD leader Shakti Singh Yadav remarked that such displays showed the ruling party’s anxiety rather than confidence. “They are reading the writing on the wall. The people have voted for change, and no poster can alter that,” he said.

Nitish Kumar’s changing political fortunes

Nitish Kumar, who has been Bihar’s chief minister for nearly two decades in various coalitions, has weathered multiple political challenges and shifting alliances. From leading the NDA government to breaking away and joining hands with the RJD in 2015 — and then returning to the BJP camp in 2017 — his career has been marked by pragmatism and survival instincts.

Political analyst DM Diwakar from the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies noted that the poster’s tone echoed Nitish’s enduring image as a political survivor. “Every election, the narrative of Nitish’s decline resurfaces, but he finds a way to stay in the game. The slogan ‘Tiger abhi zinda hai’ captures that instinct well,” he said.

The current election has tested that resilience once again. Exit polls have given mixed predictions, with several surveys suggesting a close contest between the ruling NDA and the opposition bloc. Most pollsters have refrained from declaring a decisive trend, keeping all sides cautious before the official count.

Symbolism, timing, public reaction

The *Tiger abhi zinda hai* slogan has also been read as a message to party workers demoralised by reports of anti-incumbency and internal discontent. The JD(U) has faced criticism over governance issues such as unemployment, migration, and law and order. Yet Nitish continues to command a personal following in many parts of the state, particularly among older voters who associate him with Bihar’s earlier infrastructure and education reforms.

Locals passing by the JD(U) office were seen taking photographs and sharing images of the poster on social media, where reactions ranged from admiration to satire. Supporters hailed it as a confident assertion of leadership, while critics mocked it as a “film promotion” on the eve of uncertain results. Memes comparing Nitish Kumar to Salman Khan’s character from the 2017 movie also trended briefly on X (formerly Twitter).

Political commentator Prashant Kishor, once Nitish’s key strategist and now a critic, posted a cryptic response online: “In politics, survival is not revival.” Though he did not name anyone, the remark was widely interpreted as a comment on the poster campaign.

Meanwhile, JD(U) insiders insisted that the banner was a routine morale-booster. “We put up similar creative posters during every election,” said one Patna district worker. “The idea is to remind people that Nitishji’s work speaks for itself.”

As Bihar awaits the election results, the visual politics outside party headquarters have become part of the pre-result spectacle. Supporters have begun gathering in Patna and other district towns, anticipating a long day of counting. Security around counting centres has been tightened, and the Election Commission has asked parties to avoid any celebrations until final numbers are confirmed.

Political observers say that regardless of the result, the poster reflects Nitish Kumar’s determination to frame the outcome as part of his continuing political journey. Whether it turns out to be a victory message or a statement of defiance after a setback, it reinforces his reputation as a veteran leader unwilling to fade quietly.

As one JD(U) supporter put it, standing before the giant poster in Patna: “Win or lose, Nitish Kumar is still the tiger of Bihar politics. This slogan just says what everyone already knows.”