Chirag Paswan, Nitish Kumar and Maithili Thakur (Images/Agencies)
NEW DELHI: Bihar’s 2025 verdict was at once predictable and surprising. Predictable because as usual the NDA retained the power and Nitish Kumar is once again expected to retain the CM chair. Surprising because new, youthful faces such as Chirag Paswan and Maithili Thakur played decisive, complementary roles that helped NDA push past the 200-seat mark. The lesson from this election is clear – in Bihar’s complex social landscape, a mix of experienced leaders, steady welfare delivery and energetic young faces has proved more effective than relying only on old popularity or only on youth-driven politics.Despite the surge of young voters, the new Bihar Assembly has actually grown older — with the average MLA age rising to 53, according to data from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
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A young electorate, a mixed verdict
Bihar’s demographics set the stage for an assumed Gen Z breakthrough. The state is young: nearly 57–58% of the population is under 25 and Gen Z accounts for roughly 25% of registered voters. Yet the ballot did not produce a wholesale generational turnover. Voter turnout rose to 67.13%, the highest since 1951, but the assembly that emerges remains led by established figures.The paradox points to a deeper truth: youth ambitions are powerful as a narrative, but they need organisation, welfare credibility and cross-cutting alliances to translate into seats.
| Key Demographic & Election Indicators | Figures |
| Registered voters in Bihar | 7.44 crore |
| Population under 25 | 57–58% |
| Gen Z share among voters | 25% |
| Newly added voters since 2020 | 11.17 lakh |
| Turnout in 2025 election | 67.13% |
| Women turnout | 71.6% |
| Men turnout | 62.8% |
Source: ADR
Balance beat bravado: Why NDA formula worked
Nitish Kumar’s appeal rested on delivery and familiarity. His long record including infrastructure, electrification, women-centred schemes and visible rural services have converted into voter trust, especially among families worried about daily survival and local governance. That credibility was amplified by BJP’s organisational muscle power and national messaging, producing a coalition that combined administrative reputation with ground-level reach.But this was not a victory of seniority alone. The NDA’s seat haul hinged on a deliberate fusion of styles: the steady administrative image of Nitish; BJP’s organisational discipline and PM Modi’s national appeal and the insurgent energy of newer coalition partners.
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Chirag Paswan: The ‘sabji mein namak’ who delivered big
Chirag Paswan’s description of himself as “sabji mein namak” captured the strategic role he played. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) won 19 of the 29 seats it contested, a performance that materially pushed the NDA beyond the 200-seat threshold. More striking was the party’s ability to wrest seats from the Mahagathbandhan: LJP(RV) took 17 constituencies that had earlier been with the opposition, undercutting expectations about its limited reach.Chirag’s rise was not accidental. His bargaining power had roots in the 2024 Lok Sabha sweep, where his party performed strongly and in smart seat-sharing talks that gave LJP(RV) winnable contests. By winning 19 of the 29 seats it contested in assembly elections, LJP(RV)’s strike rate suggests that the party had converted local appeal into electoral returns and reasserted Chirag as a major NDA face in Bihar’s new political arithmetic.
Maithili Thakur: Culture, youth and power
The BJP’s capture of Alinagar through Maithili Thakur underlined a different dynamic: cultural influence and youth appeal can convert into real votes when rooted in local identity and persistent outreach. The 25-year-old folk singer — a social media star and cultural ambassador for Mithilanchal has defeated RJD’s Binod Mishra and looked set to become the state’s youngest MLA. Her campaign blended grassroots outreach with a strong online following, demonstrating that youthful charisma, when allied to party structure and local ties, can win seats that long resisted the BJP.
Why Mahagathbandhan’s youth icons fell short
Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav aggressively pitched themselves as the voice of young India, placing job creation, caste-based census and economic justice front and centre. Rahul’s “Voter Adhikar Yatra” also saw him raise the issue of “vote chori”, warning young voters of manipulation and urging them to defend democracy
.Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav during Voter Adhikar Yatra
Before the first phase of voting in Bihar, in a video message, Rahul addressed his “Gen-Z brothers and sisters” in Bihar, saying: “Tomorrow is not just a day for voting, but a day to decide the direction of Bihar’s future … Stay alert to every conspiracy and manipulation at the booths … The future of Bihar is in your hands.”Tejashwi, in particular, sought to expand his connection with first-time voters through social media-heavy messaging and large rallies projecting himself as the future of Bihar.Yet, critics argued that assurance of results mattered more than rhetoric. Prashant Kishor, once an architect of JD(U)’s electoral strategies, did not miss the opportunity to take a swipe at both sides, calling them outdated in approach and disconnected from ground realities.Kishor questioned Rahul’s deep engagement with the state. He asked, “How much knowledge does Rahul Gandhi have here? Rahul Gandhi comes here, roams around, does a couple of show-bites and then he is gone.” “When the people of Bihar are not listening to him (Rahul Gandhi), then why would Gen Z listen to him? Gen Z is not a homogeneous group in Bihar who acts on someone’s call or on the basis of their assessment,” Kishor said. New and “youth-first” political experiments, including Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj aimed to target a niche of voters through their extensive door-to-door campaigning. However, the party struggled to convert enthusiasm into booth-level performance.Changing politics in Bihar requires patient groundwork: building cadres, stitching alliances and nurturing constituency-specific strategies. A single poll cycle rarely grants instant success.
Women and welfare shift the tide
Another twist in Bihar’s electoral story comes from its women voters. This year, women recorded a turnout of 71.6%, significantly higher than the 62.8% turnout among men. This creates a clear gender advantage in the NDA’s favour.Women-centric welfare measures, particularly direct cash transfers and mobility-support initiatives, played a critical role. Nitish Kumar’s long-running focus on women’s empowerment, including the Rs 10,000 direct assistance scheme, strengthened trust and reinforced a dependable female vote bank.
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The road ahead: Continuity with caution
Bihar’s verdict shows that generational change in politics can be gradual rather than revolutionary. For the NDA, the 2025 win validates a coalition approach that pairs veteran governance with youthful faces. For the opposition, the message is stark: charisma must be matched by credible welfare offerings and grassroots architecture.Bihar’s politics will stay complicated. But the 2025 election offered a lesson that is both simple and hard to achieve: in a state as socially layered as Bihar, mixed leadership with combined experience, welfare credibility and new energy is not just desirable, it is essential. Go to Source
