The 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, held in two phases on November 6 and November 11, has produced a historic verdict. With 243 seats up for grabs, the state recorded its highest-ever voter turnout, and voters handed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a massive victory.
Record Turnout: Democracy in Action
Bihar’s voters turned out in unprecedented numbers. The first phase saw a turnout of 65.08%, while the second phase crossed 68.8%, taking the overall participation to about 66.9%—the highest since the first elections in 1951. =
Notably, women’s participation was especially strong. According to the Election Commission, female turnout significantly outstripped male turnout, underlining their growing influence in Bihar politics.
Big Victory for the NDA
The NDA has won decisively, crossing the 200-seat mark in the Assembly with 202 seats.
Within the alliance:
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BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats.
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Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, won 85 seats, its best performance in many years.
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Allies like LJP (Ram Vilas) also made a mark, securing 19 seats.
On the other side, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) faced a heavy defeat:
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The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) won only 25 seats, down significantly from its previous tallies.
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Congress managed just 6 seats.
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A few smaller parties — like CPI(ML) and CPI(M) — won very limited seats, and Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party failed to make an impact, winning none.
Why Did the NDA Win Big?
Several factors worked in favor of the NDA:
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Stability and Governance Narrative
The NDA effectively revived fears of “Jungle Raj” (a term associated with lawlessness under past RJD governments), contrasting that with their promise of stability and governance. -
Broad Caste Coalition
The alliance managed to build a strong social coalition. While BJP drew support from upper-caste voters, JD(U) consolidated votes among backward castes, especially EBCs. Together with other NDA allies, they formed a surprisingly wide caste-based outreach. -
Women Voters and Welfare
Women played a central role. The NDA highlighted welfare schemes targeting women, such as cash-transfer programs, and used grassroots mobilization (e.g., deploying “Jeevika Didis”) to drive turnout. -
Nitish–Modi Factor
The partnership between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi proved electorally powerful. Nitish’s reputation in Bihar, combined with BJP’s national appeal, seems to have resonated strongly with voters.
Implications for Bihar and Beyond
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Nitish Kumar’s Strength: With this mandate, Nitish Kumar is expected to continue as Chief Minister. His political resilience is noteworthy — he has already served as CM many times, but this result strengthens his position further.
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A Blow to RJD and Congress: The RJD’s steep loss underscores its declining clout. For Congress, this is another setback in trying to regain relevance in Bihar.
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Women as a Key Force: The high turnout among women suggests they were a decisive factor in this election. The NDA’s pro-women policies may now become a central part of its governance agenda.
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National Significance: Bihar is an important state politically. A big win here strengthens NDA’s broader position and gives both BJP and JD(U) momentum ahead of future elections.
Challenges Ahead
While the victory is sweeping, the NDA now faces the challenge of delivering on its promises. Key areas to watch:
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Will the government maintain the trust of women voters by expanding welfare schemes?
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Can the development narrative (roads, infrastructure, jobs) be translated into real action?
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How will the opposition regroup? The RJD and Congress must reassess and rebuild if they want to stay relevant.
Conclusion
The 2025 Bihar Assembly election has been a landmark moment. The high voter turnout, decisive victory for the NDA, and the scale of its mandate suggest that voters overwhelmingly backed a message of stability, development, and strong leadership. For Nitish–Modi alliance, the challenge now shifts from winning to delivering — and they have a strong mandate to do so.
