Patna: In an unexpected twist in the Bihar Assembly elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has delivered a stunning performance in Muslim-dominated constituencies, shattering long-held political assumptions and leaving the Mahagathbandhan badly bruised.
As counting progressed on Friday, early trends showed the NDA leading in 16 minority-heavy seats, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) emerging as the biggest gainer. The party held leads in eight of these constituencies, marking a dramatic shift from previous electoral patterns.
Adding to the surprise, Chirag Paswan’s LJPRV surged ahead in six Muslim-dominated seats, signalling a broad consolidation for the NDA across regions where the Mahagathbandhan traditionally held sway.
A Times of India analysis noted that the RJD was trailing in seven Muslim-majority seats it had won in 2020, while the Congress slipped in four similar constituencies. Just five years ago, the RJD had captured 18 such seats and the Congress six — highlighting the scale of the opposition’s erosion this time.
NDA Poised for a Landslide
Beyond the surprise gains in minority belts, the NDA looked headed for a statewide sweep, with the alliance quickly nearing the 200-seat mark as counting continued. Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) posted a remarkable resurgence, leading in most of the constituencies it contested, while the BJP recorded strong numbers across multiple regions, putting the coalition on firm ground to return to power.
By mid-morning, major networks projected the NDA tally rising into the 180–190 seat range, setting the stage for another term for the ruling alliance if the trends held through later rounds.
Mahagathbandhan in Freefall
Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan was struggling to stay afloat, leading in fewer than 50 seats, as its numbers shrank steadily through the morning. Election analysts noted that while some fluctuations were possible with postal ballots and final EVM rounds, the opposition’s slide appeared too deep to reverse.
The early verdict from Bihar is clear: the NDA has not only consolidated its traditional strongholds but also broken new ground in regions long considered out of reach — signalling a major realignment in the state’s political map.
