The ballot boxes of Bihar’s fiercely contested 2025 Assembly elections are now unsealed, with vote counting underway across the state in what promises to be a pivotal test of political fortunes.
A chorus of exit polls overwhelmingly favors the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA), forecasting a substantial lead over the opposition Mahagathbandhan in this razor-thin race that has captivated observers nationwide.
At the heart of the drama lies whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s long-standing pledge of “sushasan,” or effective administration, still holds sway among voters who flocked to polling stations in unprecedented droves.
Aggregating insights from nine major surveys, the NDA appears set to surpass the majority threshold decisively, eyeing over 147 seats in the 243-member legislative chamber.
Conversely, the Mahagathbandhan—spearheaded by Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav—is projected to secure roughly 100 constituencies, per the consensus of these pre-result analyses.
The campaign trail leading into election day brimmed with stark ideological clashes and bold enticements.
The NDA, anchored by its track record on social programs, dangled incentives like Rs 10,000 for budding female business owners and 125 MW of complimentary power supply.
Heavyweights from the national stage, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, crisscrossed the state, hammering home warnings of a return to the “jungle raj” disorder should the RJD assume power.
The opposition countered with its signature brand of expansive pledges, vowing a government position for every household and a Rs 30,000 aid bundle for economically disadvantaged women.
The Congress, under Rahul Gandhi’s banner, zeroed in on purported flaws in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, branding it outright as “vote chori” or electoral theft.
Several marquee battles could tip the scales. In Raghopur, Tejashwi Yadav aims to reclaim his seat, even as his sibling Tej Pratap Yadav navigates a multipart tussle in Mahua.
On the NDA side, BJP stalwart and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary vies for Tarapur, while Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha defends his bastion in Lakhisarai.
As trends trickle in, Bihar’s voters await clarity on whether continuity or change will define the state’s next chapter.