The NDA's overwhelming victory in Bihar has significantly boosted the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a strong turnaround since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where the party failed to secure a majority. The BJP improved its strike rate from 67.27% in 2020 to an impressive 88.11% this time, winning 89 of 101 contested seats. The results highlight the success of allying with LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan and could reduce dependence on ally Nitish Kumar. This victory sets a positive tone for upcoming state elections in 2025, though the BJP faces tough contests in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc appears increasingly divided, with the RJD and Congress failing to meet expectations despite strong ground campaigns. The Bihar outcome has weakened the Opposition's bargaining position and undermined the "vote chori" allegations raised by Rahul Gandhi, reinforcing the BJP's momentum across multiple state elections since last year's general polls.
BJP's Improved Performance Across Recent State Elections
Since the May 2024 general elections, the BJP has consistently improved its performance across various states. In Haryana, the party won 48 of 89 seats in October 2024, eight more than in 2019. Maharashtra saw the BJP secure 132 of 149 contested seats in November 2024, surpassing its 2019 tally of 105. In Delhi, the party won 48 of 68 seats in early 2025, a dramatic rise from just eight seats in 2020. Even in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP increased its tally to 29 seats from 25 previously. The only setback came in Jharkhand, where the party won 21 of 68 seats, fewer than the 29 it secured in 2019. Bihar's landslide further strengthens this upward trend.
Implications for Upcoming State Polls and Opposition Bloc
The Bihar results establish momentum for upcoming state elections, though challenges remain. In West Bengal, the BJP faces the ruling Trinamool Congress, while in Kerala the contest is between the Left Democratic Front and Congress-led United Democratic Front. Tamil Nadu will see the DMK-Congress coalition against the AIADMK-BJP alliance. The INDIA bloc appears fractured, with the RJD's defeat in Bihar raising serious questions. Rahul Gandhi's "vote chori" campaign has been dismissed as misplaced, weakening Congress's bargaining position. BJP leaders believe the victory negates Opposition allegations about constitutional threats and strengthens the party's position at the Centre, ensuring allies like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu cannot pressure the government for the next four years.
Source: Link