Patna:
The Bihar Assembly elections have delivered a verdict reminiscent of the NDA’s big victory in 2010, but with new political dynamics. The people of Bihar have chosen the NDA again, giving the ruling alliance 202 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) managed to win just 35. The outcome was unexpected for both blocs.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal expressed disbelief, saying, “This result is unbelievable for all of us. Not just Congress, even the people of Bihar and our alliance partners are unable to believe it. A 90% strike rate for a party – this has never happened. We are doing a thorough analysis and collecting data from across Bihar.”
Beyond the headline numbers, however, a big part of the story lies in the role of smaller parties and their impact on winning margins.This election was significant because the Jan Suraaj Party, founded by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, contested for the first time. Despite not winning a single seat, the party secured 3.4% of the total vote share, emerging as a potential disruptor in Bihar politics. While Jan Suraaj failed to open its account, it ended up being a ‘vote-cutter’ for both alliances.
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