The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have delivered a resounding verdict, cementing the National Democratic Alliance’s dominance in the state. Riding on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong performance, the NDA easily crossed the majority mark of 122 seats. Voter turnout rose to 67.14 per cent, reflecting robust engagement across the state.
In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan — comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties — suffered a massive setback. The RJD managed less than 40 seats, while Congress and CPI(ML) Liberation faced severe losses. The NDA’s vote share of 47.2 per cent dwarfed the Mahagathbandhan’s 37.3 per cent, highlighting the opposition’s inability to consolidate votes.
Congress’ Collapse Weakens the Opposition Bloc
The rout is attributed to multiple factors, including internal discord, strategic missteps, and the NDA’s strong counter-mobilisation. Congress, the weakest link in the alliance, became a liability by failing to translate its campaign into results. Contending in 61 seats, the party is leading in just four — a 79 per cent decline from its 19 leads in 2020, with vote share dropping to around 8 per cent from 9.48 per cent.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ campaign, designed to energise voters and consolidate anti-incumbency sentiment, failed to gain traction. Despite repeated allegations and high-profile rallies, the strategy could not offset the NDA’s superior ground presence and development narrative.
Fragmented Opposition and Emerging Alternatives
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, debuting with 3.5 per cent vote share, did not win any seats but drew votes away from the Mahagathbandhan, especially among urban youth. Similarly, AIMIM and other smaller parties fragmented traditional vote banks, reducing the opposition’s effectiveness. Internal seat-sharing conflicts further weakened the alliance, with friendly contests in 11 constituencies diluting focus and resources.
Analysts note that NDA’s social engineering and welfare programs, particularly targeting women, EBCs, and Dalits, played a decisive role. Nitish Kumar’s long-term goodwill, especially through initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana and Jeevika self-help groups, helped consolidate support across various demographics.
For the Mahagathbandhan, the stark reality of their 2025 performance — dropping from 110 seats in 2020 to just 39 — underscores the urgent need for introspection. Congress’ underperformance has not only hurt the alliance but also raises questions about the opposition’s strategy for future state and national elections.
Looking Ahead: NDA’s Consolidation and Opposition’s Challenge
With the NDA securing another term, Bihar enters an era of political stability under Nitish Kumar. For the opposition, rebuilding credible alliances, reconnecting with voters, and presenting a clear alternative narrative remain critical tasks ahead of the 2029 elections.
Until then, Nitish Kumar’s third term solidifies the NDA’s era in Bihar politics.