The National Democratic Alliance appeared headed for a sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 on Thursday, with counting trends placing the coalition well ahead of the Mahagathbandhan. By 1 pm, the NDA was leading in 199 of the 243 seats, while the opposition bloc trailed with 38. The trends indicated a major setback for Tejashwi Yadav’s Mahagathbandhan and suggested renewed public confidence in the NDA’s governance.
At 11.45 am, the Election Commission’s update showed the NDA ahead in 188 seats, with the BJP leading in 85, JD(U) in 75, LJP (RV) in 22, HAM in 4 and RLM in 3. On the opposition side, the RJD led in 36 seats, Congress in 6, CPI(ML) in 7, CPI(M) in 1 and VIP in 1, while the BSP and AIMIM were ahead in one and three seats respectively.
The JD(U) looked set for a strong rebound from its 2020 performance, bolstered by significant participation from women voters, who have traditionally been a key support base for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The BJP was also on course to become the single largest party in the state.
The trends reflected the enduring appeal of the Nitish-Modi partnership, combining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national influence with Nitish Kumar’s long-standing governance record. For Kumar, the 2025 election was regarded as a crucial test of political resilience after several realignments in Bihar’s shifting political landscape. Despite concerns over anti-incumbency, the early numbers pointed to a decisive endorsement of his leadership. Counting was continuing, with final results expected later in the day.
