The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers broke into celebrations in Patna and New Delhi on Friday as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) appeared headed for a sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly elections.
In Patna, jubilant BJP supporters brought out a chariot adorned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image. Party workers danced, sang, and exchanged sweets as trends pointed toward a historic mandate in favour of the NDA.
According to latest Election Commission data, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA was ahead in 203 seats. Of these, the BJP was leading in 93, JD(U) in 83, LJP in 19, HAM in 5 and RLM in 4 seats.
The opposition registered leads in select pockets: the RJD in 27 constituencies, Congress in 4, CPI(ML) in 2, and CPI(M) in 1 – taking the total to 34. The BSP held a lead in one seat, while AIMIM was ahead in five.
If these trends hold, the NDA is poised to surpass its record-breaking 206-seat victory in the 2010 Assembly elections.
Nitish Kumar’s Enduring Appeal
For Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – who has governed Bihar for nearly two decades – this election was widely viewed as a test of political endurance and public trust. Once hailed as “Sushashan Babu” for steering the state away from the era often labelled as “jungle raj,” Kumar has in recent years faced signs of voter fatigue and criticism over shifting alliances.
However, current trends reflect a renewed endorsement of his governance model. The return of a cohesive and confident BJP–JD(U) alliance has significantly reshaped the electoral landscape. With Prime Minister Modi campaigning extensively alongside Nitish Kumar, the coalition projected unity and a focus on welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and administrative stability.
The combined appeal of PM Modi’s national stature and Nitish Kumar’s grassroots credibility has created a formidable political force that now appears to be translating into a landslide mandate.
A Peaceful Election Marking a Shift in Bihar’s Electoral Culture
The NDA leadership also highlighted the state’s transformation through the smooth conduct of the 2025 polls. They contrasted this with previous decades: 63 deaths and 156 repolls in 1985; 87 deaths in 1990; postponed elections in 1995 due to widespread violence; and repolling in 660 booths in 2005. In sharp contrast, the 2025 elections recorded zero repolling and zero incidents of violence – an outcome the ruling alliance hailed as evidence of improved law and order.
(ANI)