Bihar’s 2025 election has rewritten the political playbook. In an unexpected turn of events, Nitish Kumar’s leadership and the BJP-led NDA triumphed over two decades of anti-incumbency, delivering a decisive win in what was expected to be a tight race. The ‘Mahagathbandhan’, once seen as the strongest opposition, crumbled under internal discord, poor strategy, and unfulfilled promises. However, the true game-changer was the rise of women voters, emerging as the driving force behind the NDA’s victory.
Tehelka’s cover story “NDA Scripts Historic Win in Bihar” by Vibha Sharma explores how the BJP-led NDA swept Bihar as the Congress–RJD alliance faltered, with women voters playing a decisive role. For the first time in Bihar’s history, women outnumbered men at polling booths, with a record 71.6% female turnout compared to 62.8% among men. This shift wasn’t just symbolic—it was instrumental in the NDA’s overwhelming win. Women, often sidelined in politics, became the “kingmakers,” rewarding the NDA for its welfare-driven policies like the “Dus Hazari” scheme, which transferred Rs 10,000 to over 1.2 crore women. Unlike the opposition, which offered only promises, the NDA had already delivered tangible benefits.
The NDA’s success also stemmed from a potent mix of Narendra Modi’s national appeal and Nitish Kumar’s governance record, presented under the “double-engine government” model. Voters favored stability, development, and welfare over divisive politics and caste-based rhetoric. The NDA’s narrative of progress resonated with an electorate tired of the old ways, while the opposition’s focus on caste politics and legacy struggles fell flat.
Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD, despite vigorous campaigning, couldn’t shake off the “Jungle Raj” image that continued to haunt the party. His attempts to distance himself from Lalu Prasad Yadav’s legacy failed, and internal rifts within the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ further hindered their cause. With Congress securing only six seats and Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the campaign trail, the opposition appeared fragmented and uncoordinated. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraj campaign only deepened the divide.
The results have reset Bihar’s political landscape. Women voters are now a decisive bloc, signaling a shift away from traditional caste-based politics. The opposition must now recognize that unity, credible leadership, and a coherent narrative focused on welfare and governance are essential to challenging the NDA’s dominance.
For the Grand Alliance, Bihar’s message is clear: passion alone won’t win elections. Delivering on promises and staying connected with the people is what matters. With its victory in Bihar, the BJP is now eyeing upcoming elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, where the political shift driven by women voters may continue to reshape India’s electoral future.
Continuing its investigative work, Tehelka’s Special Investigative Team has launched a new exposé, revealing how media collude with political parties to manipulate electoral narratives through paid newsin newspapers, magazines, and electronic media. Such news resembles advertisements, but without the ad tag. Since paid news has long plagued society, Tehelka decided to investigate this, and the result is our special story, “The Paid News Files.”
