Modi 'magic', welfare push and more: 5 factors that powered BJP to biggest tally in Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made multiple visits to the state ahead of the election.

The latest trends for Bihar election results showed that the NDA crossed the 200-mark with the BJP leading in over 90 seats. The BJP, for the first time, is also on its way to emerge as the single largest party in Bihar.

The BJP’s vote share also increased to 21.14 % from 19.8% in the 2020 assembly election.
During the election campaign, key BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have always said how the “double-engine government” has worked for Bihar.

In fact, in the last two decades, the BJP has never truly been the locomotive engine pulling the train forward. It has always been hitched to the unpredictable engine of Nitish Kumar's JD(U).
According to the trends at 2 pm, the BJP was leading in 94 seats while the JD(U) was making gains in 83.

Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity, various factors led to the BJP’s historic performance in the state.

Caste balance

The BJP’s candidate selection showcased a strategic social engineering effort to balance representation across various social groups. It included a significant number of candidates from OBC and EBC communities, alongside a strong presence from upper castes like Bhumihars, Rajputs, and Brahmins. Over 50 per cent of the tickets have been allotted to Dalits, backward, extremely backward, and women candidates.

Fresh candidates have been fielded in Purnea, Kishanganj, Rajnagar (SC), and Narpatganj, reflecting a mix of youth representation and caste-balance considerations.

The BJP’s decision of making Chirag Paswan’s party win 29 constituencies also worked for it as Paswan appears to have proved his mettle by leading in 21 - a strike rate of 72%.

Mukhyamantri Rozgar Yojna game changer?

The Mukhyamantri Rozgar Yojna, launched in September 2025, became the masterstroke for the BJP. Under the scheme, Rs 10,000 were transferred to the bank accounts of over one crore women. This also strengthened Nitish Kumar’s image of a women-oriented chief minister even more.

Modi magic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made multiple visits to the state ahead of the election. He stood beside Nitish Kumar throughout the campaign and projected a united front of the coalition. During the campaign, the BJP repeatedly used the metaphor of “katta”, a country-made pistol, to describe what he alleged would be the opposition’s high-handedness if they came to power.

He called Tejashwi Yadav the “Yuvraj of Jungle Raj” and warned voters against a return to lawlessness. The PM pitched the election as a choice between the NDA's development agenda and the RJD's alleged legacy of 'apaharan' (kidnapping) and 'rangdari' (extortion).

Transfer of  votes

The BJP focused on over two dozen seats that were swapped between various constituents of NDA to ensure that the transfer of votes happens smoothly. There are about 14 seats that JD (U) had contested in 2020 but they were given to the Lok Jan Shakti Party (RV) and the Rastriya Lok Morcha (RLM). In Purnia’s Kasba the seat has been swapped between HAM and LJP. At least two seats from HAM have been given to the LJP, these include Makhdumpur (SC) and Kasba.
The BJP also contested eight of the 11 seats that were given to VIP in 2020. The JDU contested five seats which the BJP had contested in the last election. The LJP has also got a few seats which were allocated to VIP in 2020.

Failed campaigns of Congress

Despite weeks of sharp rhetoric by accusing the BJP and Election Commission of “vote theft”, the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress’s message seems to have failed to resonate on the ground.
Gandhi’s vote chori pitch which was expected to energise the Congress cadre, appears to have failed to create momentum.

PM Modi also took a veiled dig at Opposition for "abusing" his late mother. "My mother permitted me to give up all filial duties so I could devote my life to the service of the country. Such a mother, who had nothing to do with politics, was targeted with invectives,” the PM said. The Congress claimed that the man, who abused PM Modi's mother, was planted by the BJP. However, it may left a bitter aftertaste for the voters.