Counting for the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election kicked off on 14  November and the numbers are flashing red‑alert for the opposition.

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), appears to have clearly crossed the majority mark in early trends. Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) remains in catch‑up mode, and the fresh entrant Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) has yet to make a splash.

The NDA has surged ahead with BJP in 72 and JD(U) in 71 64 seats while LJP(RV) and HAMS are leading in 17 and 4 seats respectively. On the other side, the Mahagathbandhan is trailing with about 46 seats in its column, led chiefly by the RJD with 34, followed by Congress in 11 seats and smaller gains from CPI(ML) and CPI(M), which hold leads in two and one seats each.

With a record voter turnout of over 67 percent, the election is seen as a test of Nitish Kumar’s continued leadership versus opposition hopes led by Tejashwi Yadav. Officials report smooth counting across 46 centres amid heightened security.

Bihar Elections: Who’s Fighting Whom

• Total seats: 243 in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
• Majority mark: 122 seats.
• NDA coalition: BJP + JD(U) are the central players. Early trends show the NDA leading in about 145‑155 seats. BJP emerging as single‑largest within the NDA in early counts.
• Mahagathbandhan alliance: Headed by Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) along with Congress and left parties.
• New entrant: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), has very modest early lead (single digits) so far.

Historic Voter Turnout in Crucial Polls

Bihar witnessed its highest voter participation since 1951, with over 7.45 crore voters deciding the fate of 2,616 candidates contesting 243 assembly seats. Polls were conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, following a special revision that removed over six million names from the electoral roll.

The NDA coalition mainly comprised BJP and JD(U) candidates contesting 101 seats each, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan included RJD, Congress, and allied left parties. The election reflected public sentiment on governance, development, and social welfare.

Counting and Political Reactions

Counting commenced at 8 a.m. across 46 centers under tight security, with early trends showing the NDA leading decisively. BJP is emerging as the single largest party in the alliance, closely followed by JD(U). The Mahagathbandhan trails in many constituencies, while the Jan Suraaj Party’s presence remains limited.

Political reactions have been as expected: NDA leaders hailed the early numbers as an endorsement of their governance, promising inclusive growth, while Tejashwi Yadav urged supporters to remain patient, emphasizing that the counting was still underway and that early leads do not guarantee final results.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

Bihar’s 2025 elections highlight vibrant democracy with inclusive voter participation and peaceful democratic competition. While political rivalry is expected, all parties must uphold respectful dialogue and ensure governance focuses on equity and community welfare. Bihar’s future depends on moving beyond electoral battles toward pragmatic cooperation and social harmony.