Nitish vs Tejashwi: Bihar Votes for a Showdown
After two high-turnout phases, Bihar awaits whether Nitish Kumar’s NDA retains power or Tejashwi Yadav’s INDIA bloc scripts change
The stage is set for the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 results, which will be declared on Friday, following two phases of polling across all 243 constituencies of the state. The verdict will decide whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U)-BJP-led NDA retains power or Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD-led I.N.D.I.A. bloc ushers in a generational shift in state politics.
The first phase of voting, held on November 6, covered 121 constituencies across 18 districts and recorded a 64.66% turnout, higher than the 57.29% in 2020. According to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, polling was peaceful and marked by enthusiastic participation. The second phase, held on November 11, covered the remaining 122 seats in 20 districts, including Gaya, Bhagalpur, Nawada, Jamui, and Purnia.
High-Stakes Battle
The ruling NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U), HAM(S), and others, currently holds 132 MLAs, slightly above the majority mark of 122. The RJD, which was the single largest party in 2020, has 75 MLAs, followed by 19 from the Congress and 12 from the CPI(ML)-Liberation.
For nearly two decades, Nitish Kumar has dominated Bihar politics, switching alliances multiple times. The BJP’s Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha serve as deputy chief ministers in the current government. Meanwhile, Tejashwi Yadav is banking on issues like unemployment and development gaps to energize the INDIA bloc’s campaign.
The Prashant Kishor Factor
Adding a twist to the contest, political strategist Prashant Kishor has entered the fray under the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), fielding candidates in all 243 seats and positioning himself as a third front outside the NDA and INDIA blocs.
Looking Back
In the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls, the NDA narrowly secured a majority with 125 seats — the BJP won 74, JD(U) 43, and allies filled the rest. The RJD-led alliance fell just short despite being the largest single party. Since then, shifting alliances — including Nitish Kumar’s brief reunion with the RJD in 2022 — have defined Bihar’s political volatility.
As counting begins on Thursday, all eyes will be on whether Nitish Kumar secures an unprecedented tenth term, or Tejashwi Yadav turns the tide for a new political era in Bihar.
This article is authored by Tejasree K, an intern at Deccan Chronicle.