The Bihar elections of 2025 are capturing significant attention as the ongoing contest primarily features incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) and Tejashwi Yadav from the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Kumar is vying for his tenth consecutive term in office; however, he has not been officially announced as the candidate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). On the opposing side, Yadav is aiming to secure the chief minister position for the first time by unseating Kumar’s long-standing government.
In the previous assembly elections of 2020, the NDA coalition, consisting primarily of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JD(U), narrowly achieved a majority with 125 seats, just above the critical threshold of 122. This year, the NDA is supported by Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and other allies, showing their ambition to extend their governance into another term.
Conversely, the Mahagatbandhan, which includes RJD and Congress, is headed by Tejashwi Yadav as they look to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiments and make promises of transformative change.
The 2025 Bihar elections have marked a significant milestone with a record-high voter turnout of 66.91%. This statistic, reported by the Election Commission of India (ECI), highlights the increased engagement of the electorate, being the highest participation rate since 1951. The turnout was notably comprised of 62.8% male voters and an impressive 71.6% female voters, indicating a shift in electoral dynamics.
The counting of votes commenced at 8 AM following the elections that took place over two phases on November 6 and November 11. In addition to the leading candidates, several notable figures are in the running, including former Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad and popular Bhojpuri singers Khesari Lal Yadav and Maithili Thakur.
Exit polls suggest a favorable outcome for the JD(U)-led NDA, projecting them for a significant victory while indicating that the Mahagatbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav may encounter a challenging defeat, possibly winning only a few seats. Furthermore, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj organization is projected to secure zero to four seats out of 243, highlighting the competitive landscape of this election.
With the counting underway and the political future of Bihar hanging in balance, voters and leaders alike are keenly observing the results and their implications for governance in the state.