How Modi-Nitish combine felled Rahul-Tejashwi dynastic duo in Bihar

Bihar delivered a political thunderclap, with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sweeping aside the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) (meaning Great Alliance) in a mandate so decisive it reshaped the State’s electoral map.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

Congress Party's main campaigner Rahul Gandhi with INDIA alliance's chief ministerial candidate Tejaswi Yadav at an election rally in Bihar.

The verdict reaffirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national pull, reinforced Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s enduring appeal, and left the Congress-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) alliance severely weakened.

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal United (JD-U) registering an extraordinary strike rate across the 101 seats each contested, the NDA surged past the 200-mark in the 243-member Legislative Assembly to secure a three-fourths majority, cementing the BJP’s status as the single largest party.

Nitish Kumar's governance record and Narendra Modi's national appeal complemented each other, creating a perception of stability and delivery. Voters viewed the partnership as a blend of Nitish’s improvements in roads, electricity and policing with Modi’s image of scale, speed and organisational strength.

A near-equal seat-sharing pact and visible warmth between the leaders projected shared control. Recent central allocations and welfare schemes strengthened the platform.

The NDA’s strategy of building and managing a broad-based coalition paid off. Bringing in Chirag Paswan on generous terms expanded its social reach.

Though the alliance might have fared well without Upendra Kushwaha or Jitan Ram Manjhi, it prioritised inclusivity over tight arithmetic. BJP and JD(U) coordinated smoothly, distributing seats clearly and campaigning with discipline.