Bihar Elections: NDA 200 Paar, Mahagathbandhan Wiped Out

Patna: The NDA stormed past the 200-seat mark in the 243-member Bihar Assembly on Friday, scripting a sweeping mandate that effectively wiped out the Mahagathbandhan. What began as an early lead soon turned into a runaway surge, placing the Nitish Kumar-led alliance on the brink of its most dominant performance in the state.

Counting began at 8 am, and postal ballots immediately swung the momentum towards the NDA. Within hours, trends showed the BJP, which had insisted on equal seat-sharing, opening up a significant lead over the JD(U). The saffron party’s strong showing has now triggered speculation over who will play the “big brother” in the alliance going forward.

For the opposition, the election proved disastrous. Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD, which emerged as the single-largest party last time, crumbled under the NDA wave, losing more than half its seats. The Congress struggled yet again, reinforcing its status as the Mahagathbandhan’s weakest link. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, touted in some quarters as a possible disruptor, ended up “farsh par”, failing to make any electoral dent.

Exit polls had indicated an NDA edge, but the extent of the sweep, with both BJP and JD(U) clocking massive gains, exceeded most projections. With the BJP clearly outperforming its ally, attention has shifted to the next big question: Will Nitish Kumar take oath as chief minister for a record tenth time, or will an assertive BJP push to claim the top post? Fingers Crossed.