NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance registered a resounding victory in the Bihar assembly elections on Friday, securing a combined tally of 202 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party alone accounted for 90 seats, reaffirming its expanding political footprint in the state. The results mark one of the strongest showings for the NDA in recent cycles, reshaping the political map and dealing a major blow to the Mahagathbandhan.
BJP emerges as top performer with highest strike rate
The BJP delivered the most decisive performance of the election, winning 76 seats and leading in 14, bringing its total to 90. With a strike rate of nearly 90 per cent across the seats it fought, the party significantly outperformed all alliances and allies, further strengthening its influence in regions where it has traditionally been competitive and expanding into pockets where it previously faced stiff contest.
Election Results 2025
Its strong showing is expected to reshape leadership negotiations within the NDA, given its numerical dominance.
JD(U) posts solid gains, maintains relevance in NDA fold
Despite a tough electoral battle, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) emerged with a respectable tally, winning 61 seats and leading in 24, totalling 85. Its strike rate indicates that the party managed to hold on to its core support base across rural and semi-urban belts, particularly among EBC, Kurmi and Koeri communities. The JD(U)’s performance ensures it remains a significant player within the coalition, even as the BJP takes a larger share of the NDA’s mandate.
Mahagathbandhan falters despite broad base
The Mahagathbandhan, comprising the RJD, Congress, VIP and Left parties, fell sharply behind the NDA despite contesting a larger share of seats.The RJD, leading the alliance and contesting 143 seats, managed to win only 24, marking one of its weakest electoral outcomes in recent years. The Congress, which fought for 61 seats, secured just 6 wins. The VIP, contesting 14 seats, failed to win a single constituency, while the Left parties contested 24 seats but managed only a marginal impact on the overall tally.Taken together, the Mahagathbandhan recorded a dramatically lower strike rate, highlighting widespread voter shift away from the coalition.The numbers underline a sweeping approval for the NDA’s campaign strategy and leadership messaging. The BJP’s high success rate across regions, coupled with JD(U)’s durable local networks and the support base of smaller allies, helped the alliance break through caste-driven barriers that traditionally shape Bihar elections.The Mahagathbandhan’s inability to convert its seat-sharing advantage into wins indicates fragmentation in vote transfer, lower mobilisation and erosion of core constituencies.The NDA’s emphatic win reshapes Bihar’s political balance, potentially redefining governance priorities and leadership equations in the coming months. As the alliance prepares to form the next government, the overwhelming mandate also raises questions about power-sharing, especially within the JD(U) – BJP dynamic, which has historically been sensitive to seat tallies. Go to Source
