NDA takes Bihar by storm

Beating the anti-incumbency factor in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to a huge win in the State Assembly election on Friday (November 14, 2025), with the ruling coalition’s seat tally set to cross 200 in the 243-strong legislature. Mr. Kumar’s Mahila Rozgar Yojna, under which ₹10,000 was given to around 1.25 crore women over the last two months, seemed to have played an important role in his victory.

As of 9:30 p.m. on Friday evening, the NDA’s total vote share stood at 44%, while the Opposition INDIA bloc had a vote share of almost 36%. In terms of seats, the gap is much wider. The NDA had won 192 seats and was leading in another 10 constituencies. The Opposition mahagathbandhan is facing total collapse, having won just 33 seats and leading in another two seats.

BJP is single largest party

In fact, the Opposition’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has the highest vote share among all parties, winning nearly 23% of votes polled, but that has translated to a likely tally of just 25 seats, as it has won 24 constituencies and is leading in one. The BJP had the next best vote share of 20%, and is set to have the most legislators in the Assembly, having won 87 seats and leading in two more. Its NDA ally, the Janata Dal (United) has garnered a 19.26% vote share, and has won 78 seats and is leading in seven more. Both the BJP and JD(U) had contested 101 seats each.

The Congress is set to post its worst performance since 2010, snagging just six seats, despite a vote share of 8.7%. The NDA’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has a vote share of just under 5%, but has won 18 seats and is leading in one. The remaining parties received less than 2% of the vote each, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi with a 1.8% vote share, which has won five seats.

Apart from the BJP and JD(U), the NDA’s smaller members contributed significantly to the coalition’s tally. The LJP(RV), led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, posted an excellent strike rate, likely to win 19 of the 29 seats it had contested. More importantly, 17 of these seats had been won by the mahagathbandhan in the 2020 election, cementing Mr. Paswan’s importance in the ruling alliance. The Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) led by Upendra Kushwaha won four seats, while the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) led by Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi won five.

‘NDA’s complete unity’

Heading towards a landslide victory, Mr. Kumar posted a message on X saying, “The people of the State have expressed their confidence in our government by giving us a massive majority.” He added: “The NDA alliance has achieved a massive majority in this election by demonstrating complete unity. For this massive victory, thanks to all the partners of the NDA alliance leaders. With the support of all of you, Bihar will progress even further and will be included in the category of the most developed states in the country.”

The NDA victory comes amidst potential headwinds from anti-incumbency, allegations of vote theft levelled by the Congress, and new entrants like Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party (JPS), which failed to win even a single seat in its electoral debut.

Mr. Kumar’s decision to more than double the State’s pension for the elderly, disabled people, and widows from ₹400 to ₹1,100 played a major role, along with the 125 units of electricity given free to every consumer. In an election where women voters outnumbered men, however, it is the ₹10,000 paid out to around 1.25 crore women in the last two months before the election that seems to have been pivotal.

‘Opposition arrogance’

Mr. Paswan lashed out at the “arrogance” of the Opposition. “On one side, the entire Bihar is witnessing the unified strength of the NDA, while on the other side, behold the arrogance of the RJD—the mandate has not even fully come yet, and they were talking about taking oath on November 18. This is what happens when ambition turns into ego,” he said.

The Opposition’s Chief Ministerial face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav did not issue any statement. His mahagathbandhan ally, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni said, “There is no problem right now. Those who won deserve the congratulations. We will review everything in the coming days and return to the people. The cash scheme of the government worked in the favour of NDA.”

Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathore said, ”We will certainly review the unexpected results of the Bihar Assembly elections. While we respect the mandate of the people of Bihar, we assure them that we will continue to fight strongly on public issues and raise their voices for their rights.”