Bihar Election Results 2025: NDA's Landslide Victory and the Rise of Women Voters

Election Commission data revealed the NDA securing leads in 204 seats by late afternoon on counting day.

New Delhi:

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is heading toward one of its strongest electoral mandates in two decades as vote counting continues for the Bihar Assembly elections. The coalition has surpassed 200 seats in the 243-member Assembly, signifying robust support for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP-led alliance, exceeding even their impressive 2010 performance.

Below is an analysis of the key players, political parties, and voter demographics that influenced the 2025 Bihar election outcomes.

WINNERS

1. Nitish Kumar

Despite 20 years in power, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) successfully overcame anti-incumbency sentiment and made significant gains, securing leadership in more than 80 constituencies. With the NDA's combined tally exceeding 200 seats, Kumar is positioned for a fifth term as Chief Minister.

This result effectively halts Tejashwi Yadav's aspirations to emerge as Bihar's next leader. The opposition's campaign strategy contrasting "youth versus experience" failed to resonate with voters.

2. Chirag Paswan

Chirag Paswan has engineered one of the election's most remarkable recoveries. After winning just one seat in 2020 despite capturing nearly 6 percent of the vote share, his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has converted popular support into 22 victories from the 29 constituencies it contested.

The consolidation of Paswan community votes and Chirag's popularity among younger voters and Dalit groups proved decisive.

3. Asaduddin Owaisi and AIMIM

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, delivered a strong performance in Bihar's Seemanchal region.

According to Election Commission of India (ECI) data, AIMIM secured four seats – Jokihat (Araria), Kochadhaman (Kishanganj), Amour (Purnea), and Baisi (Purnea). Notably, these are the same constituencies the party had won during the 2020 Assembly elections.

4. Women Voters

Female voters played a crucial role in determining the 2025 election outcome. For the first time in Bihar's electoral history, women's turnout significantly exceeded that of men, decisively shifting support toward the NDA.

Women's participation surpassed men's by almost nine percentage points – 71.6 percent compared to 62.8 percent. Government welfare initiatives targeting women, particularly the Rs 10,000 Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana, helped solidify support among economically disadvantaged and backward communities.

5. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

The NDA's smaller coalition partners – including Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Morcha, and Chirag Paswan's LJP(RV) – delivered outstanding results.

HAM secured leads in five of six contested seats, LJP(RV) in 20, and RLM in four.

LOSERS

1. Tejashwi Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)

Tejashwi Yadav, who was positioned as the Opposition's chief ministerial candidate, failed to capitalize on any anti-incumbency sentiment against Nitish Kumar, though he did retain his Raghopur constituency.

This represents the RJD's second-worst electoral performance in its history, following the 2010 results when it won only 22 seats. By 6:30 PM on counting day, the party was leading in just 19 constituencies.

While the 2020 election had established Tejashwi as an emerging political force in Bihar, the 2025 verdict has significantly slowed this momentum.

2. Rahul Gandhi

The Congress party again underperformed in Bihar, securing only single-digit representation. This continues the pattern from 2020, when Congress contested 70 seats but won only 19, undermining the Mahagathbandhan coalition's prospects.

Despite Rahul Gandhi's "Voter Adhikar Yatra," allegations of electoral manipulation, and campaigns opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative, the party struggled to establish meaningful voter connection.

3. Prashant Kishor

Prashant Kishor, widely regarded as India's most influential political strategist, emerges as one of the election's major disappointments. Following a two-year padyatra and considerable media attention, his Jan Suraaj movement failed to gain traction and received fewer votes than the NOTA option.

Kishor's development-focused messaging failed to resonate with voters. His decision to avoid contesting specific seats created additional confusion regarding his party's strategic direction.

4. Mukesh Sahani

Despite being positioned as a significant challenger in the Seemanchal region and named the Mahagathbandhan's deputy chief ministerial candidate after difficult negotiations, Mukesh Sahani underperformed.

His Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) failed to convert caste-based mobilization into electoral victories. The Nishad community vote, which he sought to consolidate, gravitated toward the NDA, attracted by welfare guarantees.

5. INDIA Bloc

The INDIA bloc has experienced a significant setback ahead of forthcoming elections in states including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Disagreements over seat allocation, inconsistent messaging, and unclear leadership contributed to their disappointing performance.

Election Commission data showed the NDA leading in 204 seats by late afternoon on counting day, with the BJP ahead in 92, JD(U) in 83, LJP(RV) in 20, HAM in five, and RLM in four. The Opposition secured leads in only 32 seats.

Congress was reduced to single digits, RJD failed to expand beyond its traditional base, and Left parties could not maintain their previous areas of influence.