Bihar Polls 2025: Key election results - Major wins and stinging losses
As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerged victorious in the Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar is set to secure a fifth term as Chief Minister of the state. The outcome is seen as a significant endorsement of Kumar's leadership, with the Mukhyamantri Rojgar Yojana scheme, in particular, playing a key role in the NDA's overwhelming success.
The NDA, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha, secured a clear majority, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), struggled to make a significant impact. The Mahagathbandhan also included Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani.
Key Winners and Losers in Bihar's High-Stakes Election
The RJD, despite the overall loss, found some consolation in Tejashwi Prasad Yadav’s victory in Raghopur, a seat that has been a stronghold for the Yadav family. Tejashwi secured 1,18,597 votes, defeating BJP's Satish Kumar, who garnered 1,04,065 votes. Tejashwi has now won the seat in both 2015 and 2020, reinforcing his influence in the region.
In an unexpected development, popular singer Maithili Thakur, representing the BJP, made her political debut and triumphed in the Alinagar constituency, securing 84,915 votes and defeating veteran RJD leader Binod Mishra, who received 73,185 votes. At just 25 years old, Thakur becomes the youngest MLA in Bihar, marking a milestone in her political career.
However, Prashant Kishor’s newly formed Jan Suraaj Party faced a major setback, failing to win a single seat despite contesting across all 243 constituencies. Kishor, who had hinted at contesting from either Raghopur or Kargahar, ultimately refrained from fighting but fielded candidates across the state.
Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Surprises with Strong Performance
Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-RV) surpassed expectations by securing eight seats and leading in 11 others out of the 29 it contested. Paswan, who had been dismissed by many critics, expressed confidence in the result, stating that the people of Bihar had given a "befitting reply" to his detractors. He also predicted that Nitish Kumar would retain his position as Chief Minister.
Prominent Winners in the NDA
Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary won the Tarapur seat with a commanding margin of 45,843 votes. Meanwhile, another Deputy CM, Vijay Kumar Sinha, triumphed in Lakhisarai, overcoming a strong challenge from Congress' Amaresh Kumar, winning by a margin of 24,940 votes.
Setback for Tej Pratap Yadav
In a disappointing turn for Tej Pratap Yadav, leader of the Janshakti Janta Dal (JJD), he finished a distant third in the Mahua Assembly constituency. LJP’s Sanjay Kumar Singh won the seat by a margin of 44,997 votes, securing 87,641 votes, while RJD’s Mukesh Kumar Raushan came in second.
Victory for Jailed MLA Anant Singh
In a controversial outcome, Jailed JD(U) leader Anant Singh secured a victory from the Mokama seat in Patna district with a margin of 28,206 votes. Singh, currently imprisoned, won with 91,416 votes, defeating RJD's Veena Devi, who garnered 63,210 votes.