Rahul Gandhi calls ‘surprising’ Bihar election ‘unfair from beginning’; BJP mocks Congress

Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) registered a sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, winning 202 of the 243 seats in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, followed closely by Janata Dal (United), which secured 85 seats.

Allies of the ruling coalition, including the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha, also performed strongly, winning 19 and 5 seats respectively, while Rashtriya Lok Morcha secured four seats. The results reflect a strong mandate for the NDA, marking only the second time in Bihar’s electoral history that the alliance has crossed the 200-seat mark, following the 2010 assembly elections.

Opposition suffers major setback

The opposition Mahagathbandhan, which included the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and smaller allies, faced a significant defeat, winning a total of 33 seats. RJD emerged as the largest opposition party with 25 seats, while Congress managed to secure just six seats.

Other parties within the Mahagathbandhan, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Indian Inclusive Party, won a handful of seats, failing to make any significant electoral impact. Even new entrants like Jan Suraaj, which had campaigned intensively under the guidance of strategist Prashant Kishor, failed to open their account in the assembly. The results indicate a clear voter preference for the NDA over opposition alliances, reflecting a decisive swing in the state’s political landscape.

Congress leaders allege unfair practices

In the aftermath of the results, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described the Bihar elections as “unfair from the beginning,” expressing surprise at the outcome despite contesting 61 seats. Gandhi expressed gratitude to voters who supported the Mahagathbandhan but vowed to review the election performance and continue the party’s campaign to protect democracy and the Constitution. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh accused the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Election Commission of masterminding large-scale “vote chori” that affected the results. Both leaders emphasised the need for the Congress to reassess strategies and intensify efforts to safeguard democratic principles.

BJP mocks opposition claims

Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde responded to Congress’s allegations with a sharp jibe, indirectly referencing Rahul Gandhi as the “national child” and mocking the party’s poor performance. Tawde asserted that voters ignored caste-based appeals from opposition leaders, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, and focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership while casting their votes. He dismissed claims of vote theft, highlighting that the decisive NDA win underscored public trust in the ruling alliance.

The Bihar election results demonstrate a strong mandate for the NDA, consolidating its position in the state with a three-fourths majority. The BJP emerged as the dominant force within the alliance, while opposition parties, including Congress and RJD, suffered historic losses. The elections indicate a shift in voter priorities, moving away from caste-based mobilisation and reflecting confidence in the NDA’s governance and leadership. Analysts suggest that the Mahagathbandhan will need to reassess its strategies and strengthen organisational outreach to regain political relevance in Bihar.