The National Democratic Alliance has achieved a spectacular victory in the Bihar assembly elections, securing a commanding majority that will see Nitish Kumar return as chief minister for an unprecedented tenth term.
Historic Mandate for Ruling Coalition
The ruling coalition won 202 out of 243 seats in the recently concluded Bihar elections, demonstrating overwhelming public support for the alliance. Within the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while its partner Janata Dal (United) secured 85 seats.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal and including the Indian National Congress, managed to win only 35 seats, highlighting the decisive nature of the NDA's victory.
Nitish Kumar's Record-Breaking Achievement
Nitish Kumar is scheduled to take oath as chief minister on Thursday, November 20, marking his record tenth term in the position. The veteran leader was elected as the NDA's legislative leader following the alliance's impressive performance at the polls.
Razor-Thin Margins in Close Contests
The Election Commission's analysis of the November 14 results revealed several constituencies where victory was determined by remarkably narrow margins. In the Sandesh seat, the JD(U) candidate defeated the RJD candidate by just 27 votes, while in Ramgarh, a BSP candidate triumphed over the BJP candidate by only 30 votes.
Other closely contested seats included Agiaon, where the BJP candidate won by 95 votes, and Dhaka, where the RJD candidate secured victory by 112 votes.
Landslide Victories in Other Constituencies
At the opposite end of the spectrum, several constituencies witnessed massive victory margins. The JD(U) candidate in Rupauli seat won by an impressive 73,572 votes, while the BJP candidate in Digha seat in Patna defeated the CPI (ML)(L) candidate by 59,079 votes.
The CPI (ML)(L) had fielded Divya Gautam, cousin of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in the Digha constituency, but she was unable to overcome the BJP's strong performance in the area.
Key Takeaways from Bihar Verdict
The election results demonstrate several significant trends in Bihar politics. The NDA's dominant performance underscores the coalition's continued popularity among voters, while the BJP's emergence as the largest single party within the alliance signals its growing strength in the state.
The extremely narrow victory margins in some constituencies highlight the competitive nature of Bihar's political landscape, where every vote can prove decisive. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar's return to power for a tenth term cements his position as one of India's most enduring political leaders.
