Early trends from the counting of votes in the Bihar Assembly elections on Friday showed the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comfortably crossing the halfway mark of 122 seats, with the Mahagathbandhan trailing significantly, according to the Election Commission of India.
By 10.45 a.m., the NDA was leading in 179 constituencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held leads in 76 seats, while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) was ahead in 78. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP(RV)] led in 21 constituencies, and the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) in four.
The Mahagathbandhan was leading in 51 seats. Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was ahead in 39 seats. Its allies were performing modestly, with the Congress leading in seven seats and the CPI(ML) Liberation in five.
Among other parties, AIMIM, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Independent candidates were each leading in one seat.
In terms of vote share, the BJP registered 22.61 per cent, JD(U) 18.52 per cent, and LJP(RV) 5.65 per cent. Within the Mahagathbandhan, the RJD secured 22.84 per cent, the Congress 7.92 per cent, and the CPI(ML) Liberation 3.23 per cent of the votes.
Prominent candidates saw mixed fortunes. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha was trailing in Lakhisarai, BJP’s Mangal Pandey was behind in Siwan, while JD(U)’s Sunil Kumar maintained a lead in Bhorey.
Counting began at 8 a.m. across all 243 constituencies under tight security. Officials first counted postal ballots, with the tallying of EVM votes starting at 8:30 a.m.
A total of 4,372 counting tables and more than 18,000 counting agents were deployed. Most exit polls had predicted an NDA win, though a few suggested an edge for the Mahagathbandhan.
According to the Election Commission’s press note, 2,616 candidates from 12 recognised political parties contested the two-phase polls held on November 6 and 11. No constituency required repolling.
The key contest is between the NDA, led by Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan headed by Tejashwi Yadav. In the 2020 Assembly election, the NDA won 125 seats and formed the government, with Nitish Kumar returning as Chief Minister. In August 2022, Kumar severed ties with the BJP and formed a government with the RJD-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan.
He later emerged as an important figure in the opposition INDIA bloc, though the alliance with the RJD proved short-lived. Ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections, Kumar returned to the NDA.
The BJP strengthened its performance from 2015 to 2020, rising from 53 wins out of 157 seats contested in 2015 to 74 out of 110 in 2020. The RJD also remained strong, winning 80 of 101 seats in 2015 and 75 of 144 in 2020.
JD(U) saw a decline, dropping from 71 of 101 seats in 2015 to 43 of 115 in 2020. The Congress also fell from 27 seats in 2015 to 19 in 2020.
The NDA currently comprises the BJP, JD(U), LJP(RV), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan includes the RJD, Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M), and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP).