NDA scores thumping majority, Mahagathbandhan stunned, Nitish Kumar’s popularity shines through
Sunil Chadha
SHIMLA:
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) delivered a sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, leaving the opposition Mahagathbandhan and new entrant Jan Suraaj shell-shocked. In a verdict that underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national appeal and reaffirmed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s continued influence, the NDA clinched nearly three-fourths of the 243-seat Assembly, one of the most emphatic mandates in the state’s recent political history.
The NDA won more than 200 constituencies, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party for the first time in Bihar. It registered an unprecedented strike rate, winning 89 of the 101 seats it contested. The JD(U) made an equally striking comeback, improving its tally to 85 seats, nearly double its performance in 2020. Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) also outperformed expectations, claiming 19 of its 29 seats in some of the state’s toughest contests. Smaller NDA partners too punched above their weight, with the HAM winning five of six seats and the RLD bagging four.
Opposition crumbles as NDA tightens grip
The Mahagathbandhan suffered a devastating blow. The RJD, which held 80 seats in the outgoing Assembly, managed just 25 wins from the 143 seats it contested. The Congress slipped further, securing only six of its 61 seats, while the VIP failed to open its account. The Left parties — CPI(ML)L, CPI(M) and CPI — also recorded significant losses compared to their 2020 performance, with only CPI(ML)L managing to win two seats and CPI(M) one.
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which had attempted to reshape Bihar politics from the grassroots, ended up fading at the ballot box. The party failed to secure a single seat, with 98% of its candidates losing their deposits, raising questions about the buzz it had generated during its early mobilisation.
The AIMIM repeated its strong Seemanchal showing with five seats, signalling that Muslim-dominated constituencies remain highly competitive.
Nitish Kumar praised as voters back his governance record
The verdict triggered widespread praise for Nitish Kumar, often credited with reshaping Bihar’s development trajectory since 2005. Over nearly two decades, Nitish has retained a reputation for meeting promises — whether it was building roads, improving law and order, expanding electricity access or rolling out welfare schemes like free bicycles for girls and tap-water connections to households.
This election, the NDA campaigned aggressively on Nitish’s pledge of creating one crore jobs and promoting industrial growth, while many voters appeared to trust his track record over the Mahagathbandhan’s ambitious promises. Analysts say Nitish’s enduring credibility and lack of anti-incumbency helped the NDA sweep regions where the opposition had traditionally held ground.
Welfare outreach also played a major role. The transfer of Rs 10,000 into the accounts of 75 lakh Jivika workers under the Mukhya Mantri Udyami Yojana — announced by PM Modi — had a visible impact, especially among women voters. Women in several districts outvoted men by a significant margin, many of them acknowledging Nitish’s consistent focus on gender empowerment.
NDA’s strategy and coordination proved decisive
BJP leaders said the alliance’s victory stemmed from months of disciplined groundwork. District-level coordination meetings began early in the year, with all alliance partners instructed to work in unison “down to the booth level”. When friction emerged over seat-sharing or rebel candidates, Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened personally, convincing 17 BJP rebels to withdraw nominations.
During the campaign, leaders from all five NDA parties strategised daily, deciding who would campaign where and which issues needed emphasis. According to BJP leaders, Amit Shah’s description of the five partners as the “Five Pandavas” turned into an effective message of unity, leading to a seamless transfer of votes across the alliance.
Anti-incumbency absent, voters accept ‘jungle raj’ narrative
Despite 20 years in power, Nitish Kumar faced no noticeable anti-incumbency. Analysts say memories of the lawlessness associated with the Lalu-Rabri era, often termed “jungle raj,” remained influential, especially after videos of Tejashwi Yadav raising slogans referencing figures like the late Shahabuddin surfaced during the campaign.
As one BJP leader put it, the electorate was determined not to return to a time “when kidnappings and extortion were routine”.
The NDA’s victory has paved the way for Nitish Kumar to be sworn in as chief minister for a record tenth term. With the BJP, LJP(RV), HAM and RLD together holding a strong majority within the coalition, political observers say there is little room for instability or sudden shifts.
For now, the overwhelming verdict leaves no doubt: Brand Nitish remains one of the most resilient forces in Indian state politics — and Bihar’s voters have reaffirmed their trust in his leadership once again, say analysts.
