Kishan Bhawnani

Following the NDA’s unprecedented success, a new energy is being seen in the party’s national politics, with slogans like “Bihar is just a glimpse, Bengal is still left” echoing. – Advocate Kishan Sanmukhdas Bhawnani, Gondia, Maharashtra

Gondia-Globally, Bihar, one of India’s most politically active and sensitive states, has once again delivered a mandate that has not only created a huge stir in state politics but also profoundly impacted the balance of power and political signals at the national level.

The 2025 election results have made it clear that the political fortress of Patna is once again in the hands of Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s experienced and long-serving leader.The NDA alliance has not only achieved a historic victory in this election, but no record set in the last 15 years matches the grandeur and scale of public support.

I, Advocate Kishan Sanmudas Bhawnani, Gondia, Maharashtra, believe that the NDA’s landslide comeback in Bihar marks a new chapter in political history. Based on election data and political analysis, it is almost certain that the ruling NDA will once again form the government.

Nitish Kumar, considered a symbol of stability in Bihar politics, appears to be moving rapidly towards recapturing the state’s political fortress. In this election, not only did the JDU-BJP alliance strongly retain its traditional voters, but the NDA also performed exceptionally well in areas where the opposition had gained inprevious years.

A deeper review of the election results makes it clear that the NDA’s victory this time is not the result of a simple electoral wave, but rather the combined effect of several multifaceted socio- political strategies, plans, and governance models.Bihar voters are no longer voting solely on the basis of political parties, but rather, they are choosing governments that demonstrate administrative capabilities, a track record of development, and a clear vision for the future.

Friends, if we talk about the record-breaking performance, the NDA is inching closer to exceeding 200 seats.The most notable aspect of this election was that the JDU-BJP alliance is nearing the 200-seat mark, exceeding any electoral performance in the last 15 years.

This is not just an electoral victory; it is a social message that the people of Bihar have prioritized stability, experience, and a policy-driven model of governance.Two key factors behind the NDA’s victory were the effective delivery of schemes at the grassroots level, and the weak organization and fragmentation of the opposition.

Like other states in India, elections in Bihar are now being fought not solely on caste lines, but on factors such as the delivery of schemes, women’s safety, youth employment, and social welfare. This shift signals the maturing of Indian democracy. Friends, if we consider the BJP’s national expansion strategy from Bihar to Bengal, the unprecedented success of the NDA has revealed a new energy in the BJP’s national politics.

The party has clearly stated that “Bihar is just a glimpse, Bengal is still left.” This statement is not merely a political slogan, but reflects a deeper strategic direction of Indian politics.Currently, the BJP is steadily moving into states that have previously been dominated by regional parties or left-socialist alliances.

The BJP has long struggled in West Bengal, and the victory in Bihar has given the party confidence that its policies and political strategies are gaining new strength in eastern India as well. Bengal holds immense political and geostrategic importance; a change of power there could further alter the balance of Indian politics. Therefore, the success in Bihar appears to be the foundation for the BJP’s Bengal campaign.

Friends, if we consider the historic turnout, a celebration of the maturation of Bihar’s democracy, the most impressive feature of this election was the historic voter turnout in the state, which placed Bihar among the most politically active states in the country, where democratic participation is steadily increasing.

Voter turnout was recorded at 68.79 percent in the second phase and 65.08 percent in the first phase.The combined turnout for the two phases is 66.90 percent, a 9.6 percent increase over the previous election. This is not just a percentage, but a sign of a changing democratic mindset.

In India, it is generally believed that high voter turnout often reflects an anti-incumbency wave, but Bihar upended this notion. Here, high voter turnout favored the ruling coalition—a testament to the fact that voters were satisfied with the government’s performance and wanted to give it a second chance.

Friends, if we consider the decisive contribution of women in understanding the trust placed on the Nitish Kumar model, if there is any force at the heart of this NDA victory, it is the women of Bihar. By voting a record 71.78 percent, women not only influenced the electoral mathematics but also sent a clear message that they are with the government that directly impacts their lives.

Nitish Kumar’s government has consistently implemented schemes focusing on women’s safety, economic independence, and social participation.

Three schemes in particular rallied the women’s vote bank behind the NDA:

(1) Direct Financial Assistance Scheme of ?10,000 – Financial independence is the most important tool for women. This state scheme provided direct financial support to millions of women, with impacts felt from the family level to the societal level.

(2) Lakhpati Didi Scheme-This model connects women with self-employment, self-reliance, and entrepreneurship.Women, traditionally confined to the home, are now at the center of earning.

(3) The Jeevika Model – Bihar’s Jeevika program is being considered a successful experiment in women’s empowerment across the country. It empowers women economically and socially through self-help groups.In this election, women played a decisive role, supporting the NDA, which completely changed the electoral dynamics. This is the first time in Indian political history that women have proven to be the strongest political backbone of an electoral alliance.

Friends, if we consider whether the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process influenced the election results, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) program implemented in Bihar played a major role in updating and ensuring the accuracy of the voter list. Under this process, millions of new voters were added to the list, and deceased or relocated voters were removed. 

The biggest impact of the SIR was that young first-time voters and migrant rural women joined the rolls in large numbers, a significant portion of whom supported the NDA. While some analysts claim that the SIR process could have benefited the opposition All India Alliance, ground realities prove that the newly added segments were more influenced by the NDA’s welfare programs. Therefore, the SIR not only streamlined the voter list but also indirectly influenced voting patterns.

Friends, if we consider the mandate of Bihar, a signal for India’s political future, the outcome of this election not only decides the politics of one state but alsodetermines the future direction of Indian politics.  This mandate in Bihar sends four key signals:

(1) Welfare politics remains dominant; the public elects a government that delivers schemes to the grassroots.

(2) Women have become the new decisive force in Indian politics; female voters will be the most influential factor in all futureelections.

(3) The BJP continues to expand in eastern India; after Bihar, Bengal will become the base of the next political struggle.

(4) Democracy is maturing; the highest voter turnout in history demonstrates that people are actively participating in democracy.

So, if we examine and analyze the entire above narrative, we will find that Bihar has become a mirror of India’s changing democratic landscape. Bihar has once again proven itself to be the pole star of Indian politics. The political environment here determines the direction not only of state politics but also of national politics. 

Nitish Kumar’s potential return, the NDA’s resounding success, the historic turnout of women, the growing democratic enthusiasm, and the impact of the SIR process all combine to give this election a special place in India’s political history. This election not only chose a government, it also charted India’s democratic and political future. This mandate from Bihar is a decisive message for Indian politics: development, stability,women’s empowerment, and good governance will be the real politics of the coming decade.