The NDA has taken a significant lead in the Bihar assembly elections, with early reports indicating the alliance has secured 201 out of 243 seats, marking one of the most decisive victories in the state’s recent political landscape. The Grand Alliance, led by the RJD and Congress, is trailing with only 36 seats, which is less than half of the NDA’s count. Initial results suggest a substantial change from the 2020 elections, with the NDA gaining over 65 seats while the Grand Alliance has lost nearly the same amount, altering Bihar’s political dynamics.
A key factor in this shift is the Janata Dal (United), which saw its representation drop to 43 seats in the last election but is now leading in more than 75 constituencies, raising expectations for Nitish Kumar’s return as chief minister for a remarkable tenth term. The BJP is on track to become the largest party, leading in 91 seats. On the opposition front, the RJD is only ahead in 26 seats, significantly lower than its previous count, while the Congress is leading in just four out of 61 seats contested. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj, which contested all 243 seats, seems unlikely to win any seats, and Mukesh Sahani’s VIP also remains without a gain.
Among notable candidates, Tejashwi Yadav is leading in Raghopur, demonstrating the constituency’s loyalty to the RJD’s next generation. His brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, is falling behind in Mahua. On the NDA side, Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary has a comfortable lead from Tarapur. In Karakat, Pawan Singh’s wife is still trailing. Independents are leading in five seats, highlighting localized political changes. This election has set a record with a turnout of 67.10% across its two phases, the highest ever, and nearly 10 percentage points higher than the turnout in 2020. In summary, the NDA is gaining over 60 seats compared to 2020, with JDU increasing its representation by more than 40 seats.
The LJP leads in 21 of the 28 seats it contested, and the NDA is leading in all 29 seats held by ministers. Tejashwi Yadav is ahead in Raghopur, while Tej Pratap is trailing in Mahua. RJD’s Osama Shahab leads in Raghunathpur, JDU’s Vijay Chaudhary is ahead in Sarairanjan, and RJD’s Ritlal Yadav is leading in Danapur. Bhojpuri actor Khesari Lal Yadav from RJD is trailing in Chhapra, while BJP’s Bhojpuri singer Maithili Thakur is ahead in Alinagar. The complete picture will unfold later, but early trends suggest a clear NDA victory and a significant setback for the Grand Alliance, paving the way for a major political shift in Bihar.