The counting of votes for the high-stakes 2025 Bihar Assembly Election began this morning, setting the tone for a closely watched political battle between the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition Mahagathbandhan spearheaded by Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Early trends indicate a strong performance by the NDA, signalling a possible return to power in Patna.
According to initial counting data, the NDA has comfortably crossed the majority mark of 122 in the 243-member Bihar Assembly and is currently leading in around 160 constituencies. The JDU, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, appears to be performing significantly better than pre-poll projections, reinforcing the alliance’s position.
On the opposition side, the Mahagathbandhan is ahead in nearly 79 seats. While Tejashwi Yadav continues to lead in his family stronghold of Raghopur, the broader coalition is struggling to match the NDA’s statewide momentum. The RJD, Congress, and Left parties have claimed that delays in counting are raising concerns; however, officials have maintained that the process is proceeding according to protocol.
One of the surprising elements of this election is the performance of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party. Despite predictions of a negligible impact, the party has taken leads in two constituencies, suggesting pockets of support for Kishor’s grassroots campaign. Meanwhile, other prominent candidates have also made headlines: BJP-backed singer Maithili Thakur is leading from Alinagar, while controversial leader Anant Singh has unexpectedly resurfaced in the political conversation, with posters supporting him appearing in Mokama.
The election, held in two phases on November 6 and 11, followed weeks of sharp exchanges between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. Campaign narratives ranged from economic challenges and caste-based issues to governance, unemployment, and law-and-order concerns. With counting still underway, all eyes remain on the final numbers that will determine Bihar’s political landscape for the next five years.
As the trends stand, the NDA appears poised for a significant comeback, while the Mahagathbandhan faces an uphill battle to close the widening gap. The final verdict, however, will be known only after every vote is counted.
