Bihar results 2025: 5 reasons why NDA surpassed its 2020 performance by huge margin

For Nitish Kumar, who has led Bihar for nearly two decades, this election was a critical test of his political stamina and public confidence. Once hailed as “Sushasan Babu” for pulling the state out of the so-called “jungle raj,” he had recently faced voter fatigue, criticism over shifting alliances and questions about his health. However, his core voter base (EBC + Kurmis + women voters) never shifted allegiances even while Nitish flip-flopped between RJD and BJP.

Despite opposition taunts of “paltu ram,” Nitish retained the loyal base rooted in his record of development, improved infrastructure and inclusive governance in the post jungle raj era. Moreover, speculation that this might be his last election, coupled with rumours he may be replaced as CM (later dismissed by the PM), also stirred a sympathy wave. Voters who once questioned his sharpness now saw him again as an experienced, steady hand.

As the NDA’s landslide became evident, Patna’s streets reflected the sentiment with bold posters proclaiming Nitish Kumar as Bihar’s central figure. Slogans such as “Humaare Bihar mein ek star, har baar Nitish Kumar,” “Bihar ka matlab Nitish Kumar,” and a striking poster of him beside a tiger declaring “tiger abhi zinda hai” showcased the JD(U)’s message: in Bihar’s political story, Nitish Kumar is not just a protagonist — he is the narrative.

Large voter turnout votes for the incumbent

A surge in women's participation proved decisive in tilting the election toward the NDA. More than 2.5 crore women cast their votes, outnumbering male voters following the alliance's announcement of a financial support scheme depositing Rs 10,000 into the accounts of over 1.5 crore women.

The gender gap in turnout was striking. Women voted at 71.78 per cent compared with just 62.98 per cent among men. In seven districts, women outvoted men by more than 14 percentage points, and by over 10 points in 10 other districts. Patna stood alone as the only district where male voters outnumbered female voters.

Since coming to power in 2005, Nitish Kumar hemmed a caste-neutral constituency of female voters by taking several pro-women steps for them — like reservation of 50% seats for women in urban local bodies and Gram Panchayats, 35% reservation in government jobs for women, free school uniforms and cycles for girl students, and the master-stroke of Rs 10,000 under the Mukhyamntri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.

Nitish's pro-women decisions brough women voters in droves, who voted to ensure that he stayed in power in the state.

The Chirag Paswan factor

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) emerged as one of the election's biggest success stories, at one time leading in 23 of the 29 seats it contested—a strike rate exceeding 75%.

Chirag Paswan's return to the NDA fold — after going it alone in the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls — has marked another significant achievement in his rising political career. After sweeping all five seats his party contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Paswan maintained that momentum into the Assembly polls. His focused strategy, targeted seat selection, and energetic campaign strengthened both his party's position and the NDA's overall tally.

Political observers note that Paswan's appeal has grown beyond his core Dalit voter base. His campaign blended emotional appeals invoking his late father Ram Vilas Paswan's legacy with messaging focused on development and youth employment, establishing him as a next-generation leader in Bihar politics.

Chirag Paswan's performance reflects the NDA's calculated social engineering. While the BJP and JD(U) shored up their traditional supporters, the LJP helped the alliance penetrate Dalit and extremely backward class areas where the RJD previously held sway. His impact was particularly notable in central and western Bihar, where the party has cultivated robust local networks.

The results validate Paswan's decision to remain aligned with the BJP, and his expanding influence positions him as a significant player in Bihar's power structure and potentially a leadership contender within the NDA's emerging generation.

Fear of 'jungle raj' returning

Prime Minister Modi's campaign references to 'katta, dunali, rangdari' (guns and lawlessness) effectively reminded voters of the alleged jungle raj that would return if the RJD came back to power. Modi's popularity in Bihar amplified this message in voters' minds.

The election narrative crystallized into a simple choice: 'Das Hazari Chunaav Hai, Doosri Taraf Katta Sarkar Hai (It is the Rs 10,000 election, it is a lawless government on the other side).'

Poll observers say that the high turnout among women voters was also to ensure that the days of 'jungle raj' that ae associated with the regime of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi do not return.

Major welfare push

The government's decision to increase old-age pension for 1.2 crore senior citizens from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100 proved to be a major positive for the ruling NDA government. This, along with the Rs 10,000 deposited in their bank accounts, women chose to trust Nitish Kumar's delivered promise rather than accept Tejashwi Yadav's pledge of Rs 2,500 per month if he won.

The combination of welfare delivery, strategic alliances, effective messaging, and Nitish Kumar's political resilience has resulted in what appears to be one of the most convincing electoral victories in recent Bihar history, cementing the NDA's dominance and reaffirming the chief minister's continued relevance in the state's politics.