The political fate of Bihar hangs in balance as counting of votes for the 2025 Assembly Elections continues with the National Democratic Alliance showing early leads. With all 243 constituencies undergoing vote counting, the crucial question remains whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will retain power or opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav will create an upset.
Election Results: Current Status and Trends
According to the Election Commission of India, counting began at 8 AM on Friday, November 14 under tight security arrangements. The initial trends showed NDA leading on 38 seats while the Mahagathbandhan was ahead on 10 seats in early rounds.
However, television channels presented a different picture with NDTV indicating that the NDA had crossed the majority mark of 122 seats, reaching 139 seats in their projections. The Mahagathbandhan was trailing behind in these estimates.
The election witnessed participation from 2,616 candidates representing 12 recognized political parties across two-phase polling on November 6 and 11. Notably, no constituency requested repolling, indicating smooth conduct of elections.
Key Contestants and Leadership Dynamics
The primary battle in Bihar elections pits the National Democratic Alliance led by incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar against the Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav.
While Tejashwi Yadav has been officially declared the chief ministerial candidate of the opposition alliance, the NDA has maintained suspense by not announcing its nominee. This has sparked speculation about whether Nitish Kumar will continue as CM face or the BJP might propose its own candidate if the alliance secures victory.
Comparison of Election Manifestos and Promises
Both major alliances released their election manifestos in late October, presenting comprehensive visions for Bihar's development. The NDA unveiled its 'Sankalp Patra' while the Mahagathbandhan presented 'Ati Pichhda Nyay Sankalp' along with 'Tejashwi ka Pran Patra'.
Women Welfare Schemes: The NDA promised ₹10,000 under Mahila Rojgar Yojana while Mahagathbandhan committed ₹2,500 monthly under Mai-Behin Maan Yojana.
Employment and Financial Support: NDA's manifesto included ₹25,000 under Bihar Mahadalit Development Mission and ₹1,000 monthly allowance for unemployed graduates. The opposition promised ₹30,000 monthly salary to Jeevika Didis and implementation of Old Pension Scheme.
Education Initiatives: The ruling alliance offered ₹10,000 to Shiksha Sevaks and interest-free Student Credit Cards. Mahagathbandhan focused on reservation in private educational institutions and putting Waqf Amendment Act on hold.
Social Security: NDA proposed ₹1,100 under Social Security Pension Scheme and ₹15,000 pension for journalists. The opposition promised ₹1,500 monthly pension for widows and senior citizens along with increasing reservation to 50%.
Electricity and Employment Generation: Free electricity up to 125 units and government jobs to 1 crore youth featured in NDA's manifesto, while Mahagathbandhan promised 200 free units and new employment guarantee laws.
Road to Majority and Political Implications
To form the government in Bihar, any political party or alliance needs to secure 122 seats in the 243-member legislative assembly. The early trends suggest a tight contest, though television projections indicate NDA might be heading toward majority.
The election results will determine whether Bihar continues with Nitish Kumar's leadership or embraces the younger leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. Both leaders have campaigned extensively, highlighting their respective visions for Bihar's development and welfare schemes.
As counting progresses through the day, political observers are closely monitoring key constituencies that could determine the final outcome. The results are expected to significantly impact Bihar's political landscape and potentially influence national politics.
