The Bihar Assembly elections of 2025 produced unexpected results, prominently featuring significant changes in the political landscape. Notably, Tej Pratap Yadav, the eldest son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, suffered a surprising defeat in the Mahua constituency, finishing in third place with a deficit of 51,938 votes. The seat was claimed by Sanjay Kumar Singh of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), defeating the incumbent RJD MLA Mukesh Kumar Raushan by a margin of 44,997 votes.
Meanwhile, the emergence of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), helmed by Prashant Kishor, did not materialize as expected. Launched with considerable fanfare following a three-year outreach campaign, the JSP failed to secure any victories during the elections. Political analysts suggested that Kishor's lack of understanding of Bihar's political dynamics contributed to this disappointing performance. Analysts emphasized that new political entities often gain traction when they build on popular movements and establish deep-rooted support.
The voting data from the Bihar election reveals interesting patterns, particularly regarding the influence of female voters. In districts where female voter turnout was higher than that of male voters, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) outperformed the Mahagathbandhan alliance. However, in districts with more balanced male-to-female ratios, the competition was considerably closer. This shift in voter behavior underscores the need for political parties to engage with women voters effectively.
In the aftermath of the election results, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming their conduct has damaged public trust. He argued that citizens deserve an impartial body that can carry out elections transparently, especially after witnessing such a pivotal electoral performance.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his concerns regarding the fairness of the elections while recognizing the voters who supported the Mahagathbandhan. He highlighted that the Congress party’s performance remains a point of contention, having worsened since the 2020 elections, which has cast doubts on their strategy within the grand alliance.
As the results unfolded, the NDA, under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's guidance, achieved a sweeping victory, obtaining a three-fourths majority by winning 202 out of 243 available seats. This win was perceived as a triumph over anti-incumbency sentiments, largely credited to initiatives such as the Mahila Rozgar Yojna, which provided financial assistance to over 1.25 crore women shortly before the elections. The coalition’s significant victory further solidified the BJP's standing, capturing 89 seats, followed by JD(U) with 85 seats.
The Mahagathbandhan struggled, ending up with only 35 seats, while the AIMIM managed to capture five seats. The underwhelming performance of the JSP signifies deeper issues facing new political organizations in Bihar. The 2025 elections have undeniably reshaped the political narrative in Bihar, setting the stage for future political engagements and strategies.