The year 2025 in Indian politics was framed by electoral battles, starting with the Delhi assembly polls and culminating in the surprising Bihar verdict. In between, parliamentary clashes, internal party conflicts, and the rise and fall of key figures dominated the landscape. The year proved that political power is constantly in flux, where survival can be as crucial as outright victory.
The Major Winners of 2025
Nitish Kumar silenced his critics with a spectacular comeback. Despite the opposition RJD, led by Tejashwi Yadav, dismissing him as "mentally unfit" and too old, and analysts predicting anti-incumbency, Bihar's voters delivered a decisive mandate. The NDA coalition secured a massive 202 seats in the 243-member assembly. While the BJP was the top performer with 89 seats, Nitish's JD(U) won 85, extending his political reign in Bihar to over two decades.
Siddaramaiah successfully navigated a leadership challenge in Karnataka. As the Congress government reached its mid-term, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's camp pushed for a chief ministerial rotation based on a purported "secret deal." Despite intense lobbying and speculation, Siddaramaiah managed to retain his position, buying more time from the party high command and temporarily defusing the crisis.
Nitin Nabin emerged as a dark horse in organizational politics. The 45-year-old, five-term Bihar MLA was appointed as the working president of the BJP, a move that signified a major shift. His caste background as a Kayastha, though small in Bihar, is seen as strategically important for the party's prospects in upcoming West Bengal elections.
Women-Centric Welfare Schemes proved to be a game-changer in Bihar. Schemes like the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which deposited Rs 10,000 into the accounts of 1.2 crore women, along with promises of free electricity and higher pensions, directly influenced the record voter turnout. Women voters participated at an unprecedented 71.6%, nearly nine points higher than men, decisively tilting the mandate in the NDA's favour.
Chirag Paswan solidified his position as a key NDA ally. His Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) won 19 out of 29 seats it contested, becoming the third-largest party in the coalition and a crucial factor in crossing the 200-seat mark. His bargaining power stemmed from a clean sweep in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The Notable Losers of 2025
The Congress party endured another difficult year. It failed to win a single seat in the Delhi assembly elections, suffered an alliance breakup with AAP, and saw a steep decline in Bihar, winning only 6 seats. Internal strife continued in Karnataka between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Senior leaders like former Odisha MLA Mohammed Moquim wrote to Sonia Gandhi calling for an "open-heart surgery" in the party, criticizing the leadership's disconnect with workers.
The Lalu Yadav clan faced a severe downturn. The RJD managed only 25 seats in Bihar, one of its worst performances. The family was rocked by internal drama, with daughter Rohini Acharya quitting politics and "disowning" the family after a dispute with brother Tejashwi Yadav. Earlier, eldest son Tej Pratap Yadav was expelled from the party and later formed his own party, which drew a blank in the elections.
Prashant Kishor's direct political plunge ended in failure. His Jan Suraaj platform, launched after a two-year padyatra, failed to win a single seat in Bihar, losing security deposits in most constituencies. The once-celebrated strategist now faces his next test in the 2026 panchayat elections.
Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP were swept out of power in Delhi. The party won only 22 seats compared to BJP's 48, with Kejriwal personally losing the New Delhi seat. Battling corruption cases and public skepticism after a jail term, his appeal as an anti-corruption crusader significantly diminished.
DK Shivakumar, despite having strong backing from Vokkaliga seers, a majority of Congress MLAs, and a reputation as a fundraiser, could not dislodge Siddaramaiah as Karnataka CM. After multiple trips to Delhi, he had to step back and wait, following the high command's decision.
Honorable Mention: Shashi Tharoor
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor remained in the headlines, often for diverging from his party's line. His articulate defense of the government's position after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor led to accusations from colleagues of cosying up to the BJP. However, with Kerala elections approaching, the Congress finds it difficult to discipline such a popular leader in the state, giving Tharoor considerable leeway.
The political narrative of 2025 underscored that established leaders can defy expectations, welfare politics is potent, and internal party discipline remains a critical challenge. The year set the stage for the battles to come in 2026 and beyond.
