How Bihar voted in 2015 and 2020 – 2 winners and the Nitish Kumar factor

Bihar election 2025 results: For the past two times, the assembly polls in Bihar have been quite competitive, with even the exit polls struggling to get the closest possible picture. This year too, the battle was intense. Campaigns, promises, jibes and claims. The alliances were bigger, so were the stakes. A test was for the ruling NDA to prove its governance and Nitish Kumar’s relevance. And for the Mahagathbandhan, it was all about existence. 

Voting was held across two phases — Nov 6 and Nov 11 — and the state outperformed itself by witnessing a record voter turnout of 66.91%. Interestingly, women outnumbered men in both phases. 

Following the polls, came exit polls. Most of them have given a comfortable edge to the NDA, and upset to the MGB. Yet, the wait is for Nov 14 when the Election Commission of India (ECI) will count the votes. As we wait for the results, here a look at how the election results looked like in 2020 and 2015. 

Bihar election results 2020

The last election was close. All exit polls predicted Mahagathbandhan’s victory, and certainly it looked the same during initial hours of counting, until the clear picture came. The NDA won 125 seats, just above the majority while the MGB could get only 110.

The NDA formed a government and despite Nitish Kumar‘s reluctance to be the CM due to JD(U)’s poor performance, he was asked to be the CM again. 

Bihar election results 2015

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not as mighty then as it is today. In the 2025 elections, it contested on equal seats as that of JD(U) – 101. Also, the saffron party -led NDA did not have Nitish Kumar with them.

Nitish had broken up with the BJP after they had named Narendra Modi as the NDA’s PM candidate back in 2014. Also, the abysmal performance of the JD(U) in Lok Sabha elections 2014 led to Kumar stepping down as Bihar CM and party chief. 

Come November, things changed and JD(U)+RJD swept the polls with a massive 178 seats in their favour. 

Interestingly, what is common in both is that the side which had Nitish Kumar with them – won. Will this be the case this year too? Eyes on Nov 14.