Grand Alliance Crumbles as NDA Sweeps Bihar
The opposition Mahagathbandhan, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, Left parties and other allies, faced a devastating defeat in the Bihar assembly elections 2025 results declared on Friday. The coalition failed to make any significant impact against the ruling NDA alliance.
Congress Collapse: From Bad to Worse
The Indian National Congress recorded one of its most embarrassing performances in the state's political history. Despite contesting 60-61 seats, the party was leading or winning in just 1-5 seats according to final trends. This represents a catastrophic decline from its 19 seats in 2020 and 27 seats in 2015.
According to Election Commission data, Congress candidates showed some strength in select constituencies. In Valmiki Nagar, Surendra Prasad secured 97,500 votes while Abhishek Ranjan led in Chanpatia with 80,554 votes. The party also performed relatively well in Araria and Kishanganj, where Abidur Rahman and Md. Qamrul Hoda received 69,512 and 89,325 votes respectively.
Failed Strategies and Internal Conflicts
Rahul Gandhi's Vote Adhikar Yatra, covering 25 districts and 110 assembly segments, failed to translate into electoral gains. The yatra focused on alleged voter disenfranchisement through the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, claiming 1.5 crore voters were affected. However, Congress trailed in all seats along the yatra route.
Internal conflicts within the alliance further damaged their prospects. Seat-sharing talks between Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav repeatedly broke down, leading to friendly fights and cross-contesting in 11 seats. This confusion among voters ultimately split the anti-NDA vote and benefited the BJP and JD(U).
Rahul Gandhi's nearly two-month absence from campaigning during September and October 2025, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with ticket distribution favoring RJD loyalists, further weakened the Congress campaign.
Historic Voter Turnout Despite Political Drama
Bihar recorded an unprecedented 67.13% voter turnout, the highest since 1951. Women voters significantly outpaced men with 71.6% participation compared to 62.8% among male voters. The state's electorate of over 7.45 crore saw 3.51 crore voters exercise their franchise.
The election results mark a significant setback for the opposition alliance, particularly Congress, which now faces questions about its future relevance in Bihar's competitive political landscape. The party's inability to capitalize on roadshows featuring Tejashwi Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi, which focused on women's safety and economic issues, highlights deeper structural problems within the grand old party.
