BJP's Rohit Pandey Triumphs Over Congress Veteran in Bhagalpur
The counting of votes for the Bihar Assembly election 2025 has concluded with a significant upset in Bhagalpur constituency. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Rohit Pandey emerged victorious against three-time Congress MLA Ajeet Sharma, who is also the father of Bollywood actors Neha Sharma and Aisha Sharma.
Election Results: A Dramatic Turnaround
According to the official election website, Rohit Pandey secured the Bhagalpur seat by a margin of 13,474 votes after 28 rounds of counting. The victory came despite early trends showing Ajeet Sharma leading after 16 rounds of counting, with Pandey trailing behind initially.
The defeat marks a significant setback for the senior Congress leader, who has represented the Bhagalpur Assembly seat continuously since 2014. Sharma had previously secured victories in both the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections, establishing himself as one of the popular faces of the Congress party in Bihar.
Glamorous Campaign Falls Short
Ajeet Sharma's campaign had drawn considerable attention due to the active participation of his daughter, Bollywood actor Neha Sharma. The actor had put her work commitments in Mumbai on hold to campaign extensively for her father in their hometown.
Neha Sharma participated in roadshows with her father and actively promoted the Congress party on social media, making direct appeals to voters in support of Sharma. Her presence generated significant crowd pull and media coverage throughout the campaign period.
On her X (formerly Twitter) account, Neha Sharma expressed her emotional connection to Bhagalpur, writing: "The city that raised me, shaped me, loved me — Bhagalpur, you'll always be my heart. Every smile, every moment of warmth, every cheer — I felt it deeply. भागलपुर की प्रिय जानता का तहे दिल से शुक्रिया."
On election day, she added: "Thanks for all the creative videos floating around. Everyone in Bhagalpur knows where my heart lies — my Dad has always been with Congress. इस बार भगवान की कृपा से INDIA Alliance की सरकार बनेगी। Vote ज़रूर करें — सोच-समझकर, अपने देश के लिए। हर वोट की अहमियत है."
NDA Secures Majority in Bihar
The broader election results saw the NDA crossing the majority mark in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, defeating the Mahagathbandhan alliance. The NDA coalition includes the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan is led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the NDA's clear victory at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, stating: "We are the servants of the people. We keep making the people happy with our hard work and we have stolen the hearts of the people. And that is why the entire Bihar has said 'Phir ek baar NDA Sarkar'..."
The election results mark another significant political development in Bihar, with the NDA maintaining its dominance in the state politics despite strong opposition campaigns.
