A tidal wave of popular support swept Bihar, giving the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 200-plus seats in the 243-members state Assembly, the election results of which were announced on November 14.
While the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, its near-equal NDA partner, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), almost doubled its tally from the last Assembly election’s 43 to 85. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, too, gained momentum, winning 19 seats. Combined with the seats won by its other two allies, the NDA score went up to an impressive 202.
The Opposition Mahagathabandhan (MGB) was routed beyond humiliation. Its lead partner Rashtriya Janata Dal – which had emerged as the single largest party in 2020 – struggled to retain the status of a recognised party in the new Assembly, finishing at paltry 25. The Congress tally shrunk to a single digit of 6. Altogether the alliance wound up at 35.
Describing the landslide victory as prophetic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted, “The river Ganga flows to Bengal via Bihar. And the victory in Bihar, like the river, has paved the way for our victory in Bengal.” Amid celebrations at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, the PM said, “I assure the people in Bengal that the BJP will now work with you to end the Jungle Raj in Bengal.”
It is evident from the results that the ruling NDA has enhanced its supportbase across all segments of Bihar’s electorate – a new and welcome development in the state’s caste-dominated polity.
Clearly, the people have endorsed benefits of the double-engine governance – PM Modi at the helm at the Centre and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the state. The numbers also show that Nitish Kumar, who has had his proverbial ‘nine lives’, has successfully managed to dodge anti-incumbency since 2005 when he became the CM for the first time.
The performance of his JD (U) is, particularly, striking given its steady electoral decline in recent years. The party had won 43 seats in 2020, a sharp fall from the 71 it secured in 2015. Expectedly, PM Modi had a special word of thanks for Kumar for his contribution to the NDA’s victory despite health considerations.
For the BJP, the Bihar polls signify a major push to its pan-India ambitions. Bihar is the only state in North India where the party has not managed to form a government yet on its own. The polls would also serve as precursor to other key state elections next year in West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the BJP has struggled to make inroads. The results would also lead to a consolidation in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP suffered losses in 2024 Lok Sabha elections despite being in power. Assembly elections in the country’s largest state are due in 2028.
Finally, the results have proved a nightmare for the BJP’s splintered opponents, underscoring their inner contradictions in forging a united front and their failure to offer a viable alternative.
