- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 06 Oct 2025 06:11 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Election Commission on Monday ended the wait for the poll schedule announcement for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The poll body announced to hold the polling in the 243-seat state in two phases on November 6 and 11.
With the poll dates announcement, political parties will now be intensifying their efforts to reach out to people and eventually win the elections. As the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan eyes to dethrone Nitish-led NDA, there is a new Jan Suraj Party factor in these elections.
However, the last elections in 2020 were apparently bipolar, when the NDA registered a very thin edge in votes that led them to victory.
0.03% vote difference cost 15 seat to Mahagathbandhan
In 2020, the NDA polled a meagre 0.03 per cent more votes than the Mahagathbandhan in a close contest. Back then, the NDA comprised BJP, JDU, Mukesh Sahni's VIP, and Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM. Collectively, the NDA got 1,57,02,650 votes with 37.26 per cent.
On the other hand, the Mahagathbandhan, comprising RJD, CPI-M, CPI (ML)(L), polled 1,56,91,500 votes (37.23 per cent). The difference between the votes polled for each alliance across the state was merely 11,150.
Who got what?
The minute 0.03 per cent difference converted into a difference of 15 seats. The NDA won 125 seats and formed the government, while the Mahagathbandhan got 110 seats.
The Tejashwi Yadav-led RJD emerged as the single largest party with 75 seats, followed by the BJP, which won 74 seats. Among other parties, JDU won 43 seats, Congress won 19 seats, CPI (ML)(L) won 12 seats, VIP and HAM won 4 seats each, CPI and CPI-M got 2 seats each.
However, this election, the equations have changed largely. VIP has switched sides and estranged Chirag Paswan has returned to NDA. Although he managed to win only one seat (Matihani) in 2020, he had dented the alliance on about 54 seats.