ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its key regional ally, the Janata Dal (United), are on track to secure the most seats in the crucial eastern state of Bihar, early trends from India’s 2025 election show.
The results are not final, but the contest is being closely watched across India, as Bihar is one of the country’s most populous states and a major political battleground. Analysts say the outcome will offer a clearer picture of Modi’s standing after the BJP failed to secure an outright majority in the 2024 national election.
The election, held in two phases on November 6 and 11, recorded a historic turnout of 66.91% — the highest in Bihar since 1951, according to the Election Commission of India. More women voted than men, underscoring their growing political influence in a state where many men migrate to other regions for work.
With 74 million eligible voters, unemployment emerged as a central issue, prompting parties to pledge millions of new jobs. Modi sought to appeal directly to women in September, distributing 10,000-rupee cash transfers to 7.5 million women under an employment-linked program.
The campaign was also marked by opposition allegations that Modi’s BJP attempted to manipulate voter rolls — accusations the party denies.
BJP-JDU Alliance Faces Opposition, New Challenger
Although more than 10 parties contested Bihar’s 243 assembly seats, the main battle has been between the BJP-JDU alliance and the opposition bloc led by the Indian National Congress. A third front, led by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, also entered the fray, hoping to disrupt traditional vote banks.
In the previous 2020 election, the BJP-led alliance secured enough seats to form the state government under JDU leader Nitish Kumar. Bihar sends 40 lawmakers to India’s lower house of parliament, making the state a crucial political prize.
Analysts say a victory in Bihar would strengthen Modi’s coalition ahead of critical state elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam, and build momentum toward the 2029 national polls.
