PATNA, Nov 15: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has stormed back to power in Bihar with an emphatic victory, clinching 202 of the 243 Assembly seats and achieving one of the most dominant results the state has seen in recent years. Updated figures from the Election Commission show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the largest party, winning 89 seats and demonstrating a strong and widespread electoral presence.
The JD(U), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, followed closely with 85 seats, reaffirming its stature within the alliance. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) delivered a notable performance by capturing 19 seats, while Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) won five. Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) added another four seats to the NDA’s impressive tally.
Senior NDA leaders, including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, secured victories, as did prominent figures like Prem Kumar, Maheshwar Hazari and Sanjay Saraogi. BJP national council member Maithili Thakur also recorded a significant win. In Buxar, former IPS officer Anand Mishra, contesting for the BJP, defeated Congress candidate Sanjay Kumar Tiwari by a margin exceeding 28,000 votes.
The Opposition’s INDIA bloc suffered a severe blow, managing only 34 seats statewide. The RJD, despite contesting the most seats in the alliance, won just 25; Congress managed six, while CPI(ML) Liberation and CPI(M) secured two and one seat respectively. Among the few Opposition leaders to win were Tejashwi Yadav, Osama Shahab—son of the late Mohammad Shahabuddin—and candidates from CPI(ML).
The AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, made a dent in the Seemanchal region by capturing five of the 29 seats it contested. However, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), which many expected to influence the electoral landscape, failed to win any seat. Contesting 238 constituencies, most of its candidates lost their deposits, with Abhay Singh in Marhaura standing out as the party’s best performer by finishing second.
Top NDA leaders hailed the verdict as a decisive endorsement of their governance model. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the win a mandate for development and welfare, remarking that the 2025 election reflected a transition from the traditional “MY” (Muslim–Yadav) vote base to a new “positive MY”—Mahila (women) and Youth. He congratulated allies Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha, stating that the result would energize the alliance’s efforts to accelerate Bihar’s progress.
BJP president JP Nadda described the mandate as “historic,” attributing it to the public’s trust in the double-engine government of the Centre and the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the sweeping victory underscored the NDA’s work in improving women’s safety and supporting the poor, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the result marked a strong endorsement of development-focused politics.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders dismissed the outcome as tainted. Congress leaders Bhupesh Baghel and Ashok Gehlot accused the Election Commission of bending rules in favour of the ruling alliance, alleging misuse of power and distribution of cash—reportedly ₹10,000 per woman voter—in violation of the model code of conduct. Baghel directly blamed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for influencing the process, while Gehlot said the Commission’s behaviour “made everything evident.”
