Patna: The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have significant national political consequences. The BJP secured 89 seats with an 88% success rate, while the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) garnered 85 seats with an 84% strike rate, surprising many observers. The BJP’s strong showing enhances its negotiating power, although it will still depend on allies for broader influence nationally. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar initiated the Chief Minister’s Women’s Employment Scheme just prior to the elections, transferring ₹10,000 each to over one crore women’s accounts in September and October. Women launching profitable businesses with these funds were promised loans of up to ₹2 lakh after the elections.
Similar initiatives in states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have previously swayed electoral results, especially among female voters. Political analyst Amitabh Tiwari remarked, “Enticing women with financial incentives could be a successful strategy, potentially becoming a recurring electoral tactic unless regulated by the government, Election Commission, or Supreme Court.” Senior journalist Harshvardhan Tripathi noted, “If even 50% of women manage to start businesses with this money, it’s beneficial. However, if it is merely an election tactic, it could be detrimental for the economy as India aims to become the fourth-largest economy.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 16 rallies across 122 assembly seats in Bihar, achieving an 80% strike rate.
Rather than campaigning solely on his name, Modi emphasized the “Jungle Raj” narrative, pointing to alleged misgovernance under the RJD while steering clear of topics like Operation Sindoor or national security. Tripathi explained, “Brand Modi remains strong. Voters mentioned Modi alongside Nitish Kumar, illustrating the BJP’s ongoing strategic deployment of his image.” Tiwari added, “The BJP is winning on local issues and the strengths of local leaders rather than Modi alone, a trend observed in Maharashtra and other states.” For the first time in two decades, both the BJP and JD(U) contested an equal number of seats (101 each). Winning more seats bolstered the BJP’s negotiating power in both Bihar and nationally.
The BJP achieved a 90% strike rate, while the JD(U) also performed well with an 80% strike rate. Tripathi noted, “The BJP’s dependence on allies is clear. While it can establish a government in Bihar, it still requires partners on the national stage. Leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Chirag Paswan remain aligned with the BJP for strategic benefits.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held 15 rallies across 86 assembly seats, achieving a strike rate of only 15%. His focus on alleged “vote theft” and the Vote Adhikar Yatra did not resonate with voters. Yashwant Deshmukh, founder of C-Voter, stated, “The vote-stealing campaign was ineffective.
Voter turnout was notably high from the beginning, reflecting strong confidence in the electoral process.” Tiwari highlighted, “Congress is the weak link in the Grand Alliance. Regional partners may now critique its role in electoral defeats, which could limit its future influence.” Bihar recorded its highest-ever voter turnout at 66.91%, largely due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. This process eliminated duplicates and updated the rolls, resulting in a more accurate voter base. Experts suggest that similar SIR implementations in forthcoming state elections could enhance voter turnout nationally. The election underscored the emerging importance of women and youth as critical voting blocs.
Both the NDA and Grand Alliance aimed to engage these demographics with commitments to employment, education, and development. The NDA promised 10 million jobs and announced investments in AI hubs, medical colleges, and infrastructure, while the Grand Alliance emphasized government jobs, educational cities, and women’s colleges. Deshmukh remarked, “Employment promises strongly attracted rural youth, who did not experience Lalu’s ‘Jungle Raj.’” Tripathi added, “Employment has become a key electoral issue, but voters still significantly consider leadership and caste dynamics.” Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj Party ran in 238 of the 243 seats but did not win any, garnering only 3% of the vote. Tiwari noted, “There is potential for a third front in Indian politics, but it requires time and persistence.
PK’s party may gain significance in the future if it maintains its grassroots approach.” The 2025 Bihar elections have highlighted the significance of women and youth voters, the strategic role of local leadership, and the impact of well-targeted schemes, establishing trends likely to influence future elections across India.
