Mugdha Das

NDA sweeps Bihar with massive 202-seat mandate

Digital Desk: The National Democratic Alliance, or the NDA, secured a sweeping victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, winning 202 of 243 seats in a decisive mandate that highlighted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s enduring political strength and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s influence over voters.

The Grand Alliance’s campaign, led by Rahul Gandhi, fell flat as the ruling coalition crossed even its own expectations.

Analysts viewed the landslide as a strong pro-incumbency vote, crediting Nitish Kumar’s governance reforms and his long-term policies aimed at empowering women, who turned out in significant numbers.

The result also reflected a successful effort to consolidate a wider social coalition beyond the traditional Muslim–Yadav voter base.

With this mandate, Nitish Kumar appears set to become one of India’s longest-serving chief ministers.

Later, while addressing party workers in Delhi, PM Modi hailed the verdict, saying it marked the start of a new era for Bihar. He criticised the Congress for lacking vision, calling it a liability for its allies, and said the state would now move ahead with greater speed in the next five years.