Bihar Election Results: NDA Crosses 200 Seats as Mahagathbandhan Collapses

The NDA surged past the decisive 200-seat milestone in the 243-member Bihar Assembly on Friday, delivering a crushing blow to the Mahagathbandhan. What began as a narrow early lead rapidly turned into a sweeping mandate for the Nitish Kumar-led alliance, marking what may become its most dominant electoral performance in the state’s political history.

The counting began at 8 a.m., and postal ballots immediately tilted momentum sharply toward the NDA. Within hours, trends showed the BJP racing ahead of its ally, the JD(U), despite both parties contesting evenly. The saffron party’s strong showing has already triggered speculation over future power dynamics within the coalition and renewed debate over who will emerge as the alliance’s “big brother.”

For the opposition, the election turned into a rout. Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD – once the largest party – collapsed dramatically, losing more than half its seats. congress continued its downward spiral, firmly establishing itself as the weakest link in the Mahagathbandhan. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, expected by some to disrupt traditional alliances, failed miserably to make an impact, with most candidates likely to forfeit their deposits.

Follow live updates on the Bihar assembly elections here.

The scale of the NDA’s wave exceeded most exit polls, which had already predicted a comfortable advantage. With the BJP outperforming the JD(U) decisively, questions now loom large: Will Nitish Kumar take oath as chief minister for a record tenth time, or will a bolstered BJP stake a claim to the top post?

Latest Bihar Assembly Election Results

• The NDA expanded its commanding lead as the BJP secured 45 seats and JD(U) 28, taking the alliance well past the majority mark. The RJD lagged with six wins, while LJP (RV) chalked up three victories. Congress managed one win, AIMIM four, and HAMS one. Smaller parties like CPI(ML), CPI(M), IIP, and BSP picked up scattered wins. With 90 seats already in its pocket, the NDA appears firmly in control as counting continues.
• Kishor’s party failed to open its account in Bihar. Most of its candidates are expected to lose their deposits. Kishor, who predicted JD(U) would win “not more than 25 seats,” now faces embarrassment as the party heads toward 80-plus seats – its best result since 2010. Once considered a master strategist, Kishor’s latest political experiment has suffered a severe setback.
• The BJP appeared poised to become the “big brother” in the NDA with leads in 95 seats, while JD(U) followed closely with 84 seats – nearly doubling its 2020 tally of 43. JD(U)’s nearly 19% vote share reflects the strong backing drawn from women voters and welfare-driven constituencies. Junior partners LJP (RV), HAM, and RLM also showed strong leads.
• In the Mahagathbandhan camp, RJD held six wins and 19 leads (25 total). Congress secured only one win and five leads (six total). Left parties like CPI(M) and CPI(ML) led in 1–2 seats each, while IIP and BSP had one lead apiece.
• Tej Pratap Yadav, who contested under his own party Jan Shakti Janata Dal, conceded defeat in Mahua and praised voters for choosing “good governance.” In contrast, his estranged brother Tejashwi Yadav retained a strong lead in Raghopur, emerging as one of the few bright spots for the RJD.
• If trends continue, Nitish Kumar – written off by many before campaigning began – could return as chief minister for a record fifth term. But with the BJP’s superior performance, internal pushback appears inevitable. On the ground, BJP and JD(U) workers celebrated with drums, firecrackers, and slogans, as JD(U) supporters waved posters declaring “Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai.”
• The NDA’s sweeping mandate signals the emergence of a “Nimo Wave” – Nitish Kumar + Narendra Modi. The JD(U) chief’s welfare-driven appeal, bolstered by an unprecedented turnout of women voters, strengthened the alliance’s prospects across key regions. PM Modi’s aggressive campaign blitz, centered on warnings of “jungle raaj” under the RJD, seems to have delivered immense dividends.
• The NDA also surged in Seemanchal. In the Muslim-majority border districts, the BJP’s aggressive messaging against illegal immigration, dominated by the “ghuspaithiya” issue, appears to have resonated strongly.
• In a dramatic twist in the tally, Tejashwi Yadav continued to hold a commanding lead in Raghopur, touching 1.18 lakh votes in the 31st counting round. He led BJP’s Satish Kumar by 14,100 votes as the final rounds progressed.
• Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV) became one of the election’s biggest surprises, winning six seats and leading in 13 others – taking its tally to 19. Declared by some as the “Hanuman” of the Prime Minister, Chirag’s resurgence gives him newfound bargaining power, even allowing the possibility of him demanding a deputy chief minister position.

With the BJP at 45 seats and JD(U) at 28, the NDA’s commanding position is unchallenged as counting continues. LJP (RV) maintains a visible impact with three wins, while the RJD trails at six. Congress, AIMIM, HAMS, and smaller parties occupy minimal space in the tally.

Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, despite a high-decibel campaign, failed to enter the Assembly. In contrast, JD(U)’s projected tally of 80-plus marks its strongest showing in over a decade, defying all early predictions.

Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), with 84 strong leads and nearly 19% vote share, closely followed the BJP. Modi’s decisive intervention and the Union ministers’ campaign efforts clearly benefited the alliance. Smaller partners – LJP (RV), HAM, and RLM – also recorded encouraging trends.

In the Mahagathbandhan camp, RJD remained the only party in double digits, with 25 total wins and leads combined. Congress, IIP, BSP, and Left parties held marginal presence. Tej Pratap’s concession in Mahua and Tejashwi’s commanding lead in Raghopur underscored the shifting political landscape.

If the results remain consistent, Nitish Kumar may return as chief minister, though the BJP’s dominance sets the stage for complex negotiations. NDA workers continued celebrating across the state.

The “Nimo Wave” – fueled by Nitish Kumar’s welfare-driven governance and Modi’s assertive campaign – swept the NDA to victory. The coalition also registered strong performance in Seemanchal, driven by the BJP’s narrative on border security and illegal immigration.

Tejashwi Yadav maintained a significant lead in Raghopur even in later rounds of counting, while Chirag Paswan’s LJP (RV) delivered one of the election’s most surprising surges, winning six seats and leading in thirteen others.