Patna: In the sweltering November political heat, Bihar’s fiercely contested political battlefield delivered an overwhelming mandate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). As counting progressed on November 14, the coalition—anchored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United)—stormed past 200 seats, comfortably securing a two-thirds majority in the 243-member assembly. The tally shattered the NDA’s own 2010 record of 206 seats, cementing the alliance’s dominance in one of India’s most politically complex states.
The BJP led in 88–95 constituencies, JD(U) surged with 79–83 seats, and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] clinched 21–22, while smaller allies like Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) added around five seats. In stark contrast, the Mahagathbandhan (MGB)—comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties—lagged far behind with just 30–40 seats. Prashant Kishor’s much-hyped Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) failed to reach double digits, and AIMIM’s limited gains in Muslim pockets proved electorally insignificant.
At the heart of this sweeping victory lay a meticulously designed strategy blending welfare-driven populism, demographic outreach, and an unrelenting narrative campaign. Nitish Kumar’s focus on women voters—now the fulcrum of Bihar’s political machinery—once again reshaped the state’s electoral landscape. Since 2005, Nitish’s policies, from alcohol prohibition to 50% reservation for women in panchayats, have steadily fortified this vote base. In 2025, the strategy peaked with the Mukhyamantri Rozgar Yojna, launched weeks before the model code of conduct, which transferred ₹10,000 directly into the accounts of 75 lakh women.
Turnout numbers reflected this shift. Bihar witnessed a historic 67.13% turnout—the highest since 1951—with women outnumbering men in several districts. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar credited this “mahila shakti” for a significant boost in seats, as queues of women at booths in regions like Madhepura and Supaul stretched conspicuously longer than those of men. JD(U)’s grassroots campaign, including targeted door-to-door outreach in rural and low-literacy belts, further cemented this support.
Parallel to this, the BJP sharpened its caste arithmetic—long the backbone of Bihar’s electoral calculus. The alliance successfully consolidated upper castes and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), while allies LJP(RV) and HAM secured committed Paswan and Musahar votes. Strategic seat-sharing, particularly the BJP’s decision to allocate 29 seats to LJP(RV), helped unify caste blocs, evident from strong performances in traditional Paswan strongholds like Hajipur.
Meanwhile, the MGB’s long-standing MY (Muslim-Yadav) vote base splintered. JSP’s rise in urban zones and AIMIM’s gains in Seemanchal diverted 3–5% of crucial anti-NDA votes, undercutting the opposition’s ability to pose a unified challenge. The NDA’s vote share held at a formidable 48.3%, similar to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, while the MGB slipped from 40.1% to 36.9%.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s towering campaign presence added decisive momentum. Through 20 high-voltage rallies, Modi framed the contest as a choice between “Viksit Bihar” and regression, tying state-level initiatives to central welfare programmes. His Patna roadshow on November 10 drew massive crowds and boosted the BJP’s performance in urban constituencies such as Patna Sahib and Bankipur.
Operationally, the NDA remained disciplined. Home Minister Amit Shah personally intervened to defuse ticket-distribution disputes, ensuring minimal rebellion. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, deployed for an aggressive campaign across 61 constituencies, delivered strong returns with leads in 49. The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which removed nearly two crore “ghost voters,” further helped streamline polling and reduce contestation.
The MGB, in contrast, struggled with internal fissures. Tejashwi Yadav initially trailed by 4,000 votes in Raghopur then later took the lead, Tej Pratap Yadav slipped to third place in Mahua, and Congress plummeted to single digits, reflecting a coalition unable to match the NDA’s organisational muscle.
As Nitish Kumar now looks towards an unprecedented tenth term—overtaking Jyoti Basu’s record in West Bengal—the mandate underscores Bihar’s appetite for continuity driven by welfare and stability. The state’s youth, fatigued by migration and economic stagnation, appear to have endorsed the NDA’s promise of accelerated development, buoyed by a 10% annual GSDP growth rate. Yet, challenges remain: unemployment hovers around 7%, and recurring floods continue to devastate the north.
