The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections have concluded with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) maintaining a strong position in the early trends. The Janata Dal (United), led by Nitish Kumar, has emerged as a key player, leading in 73 seats out of the 243-member assembly, even surpassing its ally BJP. This development highlights Nitish Kumar's continued political influence in Bihar. The NDA's strategy relied on three main factors: Nitish Kumar's established political presence, strong support from women voters through welfare schemes like the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, and a broad caste coalition including Chirag Paswan's LJP and Upendra Kushwaha's RLM. The opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav, attempted to expand its traditional Muslim-Yadav base by reaching out to Extremely Backward Classes and riverine communities. The final results will determine whether these strategies succeeded in the closely contested election.
NDA's Strategy and Early Lead in Bihar Polls
The NDA coalition built its campaign around three core strengths. First, Nitish Kumar's long political experience in Bihar provided a foundation, though this election also tests his leadership within the alliance. Second, the coalition targeted women voters through the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, delivered via Jeevika groups, expecting this to be a decisive factor. Third, the alliance expanded its caste base by including Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) and Upendra Kushwaha's RLM, creating a wider social umbrella. Chirag Paswan's performance is particularly noteworthy after his push for more seats. Early trends show JD(U) leading in 73 seats, positioning it ahead of even the BJP within the alliance. Small vote shifts in tight constituencies could still influence the final outcome.
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