The National Democratic Alliance achieved a spectacular victory in the Bihar assembly elections on Friday, securing a commanding total of 202 seats. This resounding win represents one of the alliance's strongest performances in recent electoral history, dramatically reshaping Bihar's political landscape.
BJP Emerges as Dominant Force
The Bharatiya Janata Party delivered the most impressive performance of the election, winning 76 seats and leading in 14 additional constituencies, bringing its final tally to 90 seats. With an extraordinary strike rate of nearly 90 percent across the seats it contested, the party significantly outperformed all other political entities.
This dominant showing has substantially strengthened the BJP's influence in regions where it has traditionally been competitive while also expanding its presence in areas where it previously faced tough opposition. The party's numerical dominance is expected to significantly impact leadership negotiations within the NDA coalition.
JD(U) Maintains Strong Presence
Despite facing a challenging electoral battle, Nitish Kumar's JD(U) posted solid gains, winning 61 seats and leading in 24 more, totaling 85 seats. The party maintained its core support base across rural and semi-urban areas, particularly among EBC, Kurmi, and Koeri communities.
This performance ensures that JD(U) remains a crucial player within the NDA coalition, even as the BJP commands a larger share of the alliance's mandate. The party's durable local networks proved essential to the NDA's overall success.
Mahagathbandhan Suffers Major Setback
The opposition Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD, Congress, VIP, and Left parties, experienced a dramatic collapse despite contesting a larger share of seats. The RJD, which led the alliance and contested 143 seats, managed to secure only 24 wins, marking one of its poorest electoral outcomes in recent years.
The Congress party, which fought for 61 seats, secured just 6 victories. The VIP failed to win any of the 14 seats it contested, while the Left parties made only marginal impact across the 24 seats they fought. Collectively, the Mahagathbandhan recorded a dramatically lower strike rate, indicating widespread voter shift away from the coalition.
The NDA's comprehensive victory demonstrates overwhelming public approval for its campaign strategy and leadership messaging. The alliance successfully broke through traditional caste-driven barriers that typically define Bihar elections, thanks to the BJP's regional dominance combined with JD(U)'s established networks and support from smaller allies.
This emphatic mandate is set to redefine governance priorities and leadership equations in Bihar for the coming months. As the NDA prepares to form the next government, the overwhelming victory raises important questions about power-sharing dynamics, particularly within the historically sensitive JD(U)-BJP relationship.
