NDA Tsunami in Bihar: BJP & JDU Crush Opposition, Nitish Eyes 5th Term CM!

NEWS DESK- The Bihar Assembly elections concluded with a decisive verdict that solidified the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) grip on power, delivering a crushing blow to the opposition Mahagathbandhan (MGB).

In a 243-seat showdown marked by fierce caste arithmetic and development promises, the NDA, spearheaded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], clinched 202 seats—a staggering 80% sweep that underscores their electoral machinery’s resilience.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and the BJP’s coordinated campaign on governance and welfare schemes propelled them to unprecedented gains, while the RJD-led MGB, anchored by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Indian National Congress (INC), limped to a mere 36 seats, exposing deep fissures in their unity.

NDA’s Stellar Show:  BJP’s Tactical Mastery and JD(U)’s Resurgent Base, The NDA’s triumph was a masterclass in alliance synergy, with the BJP emerging as the largest party with 89 seats—an increase of 27 from its 2020 tally of 74. The party’s aggressive outreach to upper castes, non-Yadav OBCs, and urban voters paid rich dividends, particularly in the Seemanchal and Magadh regions.

High-profile wins included BJP heavyweight Vijay Kumar Sinha retaining Patna Sahib by a margin of 28,000 votes and Union Minister Nityanand Rai’s sweep in a key EBC-dominated seat. BJP’s vote share climbed to 38.5%, up from 19.5% in 2020, fueled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s whirlwind 15 rallies and a narrative framing the polls as a referendum on “double-engine” governance.

Complementing the BJP’s firepower, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) roared back with 85 seats, surpassing its 2020 haul of 43 and reclaiming its position as the state’s OBC powerhouse. The party dominated Kurmi-Koeri heartlands, with Kumar himself securing Bihar Sharif by over 20,000 votes against an RJD challenger. JD(U)’s vote share surged to 22.3%, a testament to its “Sushasan” (good governance) branding and targeted schemes like free electricity for farmers and women’s stipends under the Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana.

Smaller NDA allies like LJP(RV) (19 seats) and HAM(S) (5) added crucial margins in Paswan and Mahadalit pockets, ensuring the coalition’s buffer against any post-poll volatility.

Analysts attribute the NDA’s 202-seat haul—well above the 122 majority—to a 67.14% voter turnout, with women (71%) and youth (65%) turnout tilting decisively toward the alliance’s “MY” (Mahila-Yuva) focus. “This is not just a win; it’s a mandate for stability,” said BJP spokesperson Manoj Tiwari, crediting voter list revisions that added 1.2 crore names, predominantly from NDA strongholds.

MGB’s Meltdown:  RJD’s Yadav Fortress Holds, But INC Fades into IrrelevanceThe Mahagathbandhan’s debacle was stark, with its 36 seats representing a 71% plunge from 2020’s 110. The RJD, the alliance’s linchpin under Tejashwi Yadav, salvaged 25 seats—down from 75—but retained its Yadav-Muslim core, winning 80% of contested seats in these demographics.

Yadav’s personal victory in Raghopur (margin: 11,500 votes) highlighted his enduring appeal among youth, yet the party’s vote share dipped to 21.2% amid accusations of over-reliance on caste polarization. RJD’s campaign, centered on “PDS to PMS” (from Public Distribution System to Prime Minister’s schemes critique), resonated in rural pockets but faltered against NDA’s welfare counter-narrative.

The Indian National Congress, once a national heavyweight, endured its worst-ever Bihar performance with just six seats—a halving from 2020’s 19 and a vote share of 5.8%. High-decibel efforts by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra yielded slim pickings, with the party blanked in key Seemanchal districts.

Critics within the INC lambasted “asymmetric seat-sharing” with RJD, which allotted the grand old party only 27 seats despite its diminished base. “Congress is a sinking ship dragging the alliance down,” quipped a BJP leader, echoing Modi’s post-poll jabs at the party’s “parasitic” role.

CPI(ML)L added five seats in Left-leaning pockets, but the MGB’s overall 14.9% vote share reflected voter fatigue with Tejashwi’s “Nyay Yatra” and unfulfilled promises on jobs and migration.

Road Ahead:  Coalition Calculus and Opposition Reckoning With NDA’s landslide, Nitish Kumar is poised for his fifth term, though BJP’s seniority in the alliance (89 vs. 85 seats) may tilt cabinet berths toward Delhi loyalists. The opposition, reeling from the rout, faces an existential crisis: RJD eyes a solo path, while INC grapples with irrelevance in the Hindi heartland.

As Patna’s victory processions echo chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Sushasan Zindabad,” Bihar’s political theater shifts from ballots to boardrooms. The NDA’s mandate demands delivery on promises like a second Patna airport and caste census implementation, lest the MGB regroup for 2029

Note- Data May Vary after final result