The Election Commission of India began counting votes for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections at 8 am on Friday, November 14. Early trends showed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—primarily comprising the BJP and JD(U)—taking a significant lead over the Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD and Congress.
Voting was conducted in two phases, on November 6 and 11, for all 243 assembly seats, with 122 required for a simple majority.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had actively campaigned for the NDA, which appears to be benefitting from early momentum as per initial numbers.
By 3 pm, although the Election Commission had not officially declared winners for any seat, lead positions from all constituencies were available on its website. The trends showed candidates from the BJP, JD(U), RJD, Congress, AIMIM, and smaller regional parties leading across various regions of the state.
The core contest remains between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, with both alliances battling for control of Bihar’s political landscape.