Patna: The first round of exit poll results for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections suggests a clear edge for the NDA, with the People’s Pulse survey projecting the alliance to secure between 133 and 159 seats. The Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan), led by the RJD and Congress, is expected to win 75 to 101 seats, while smaller parties — including Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, and Tej Pratap Yadav’s Janshakti Janata Dal — could share 2 to 13 seats among them.
The two-phase elections, held on November 6 and 11 across Bihar’s 243 constituencies, witnessed record voter turnout, exceeding 65 percent in the first phase and maintaining strong participation in the second. Analysts say the high turnout reflects a decisive voter sentiment, signalling a contest defined by clear choices — change or continuity.
This election marks another chapter in Bihar’s long political story, where Nitish Kumar has remained the state’s central figure for two decades, governing with shifting alliances. Although the Grand Alliance briefly held power in 2015, Nitish himself was the face of that coalition before returning to the NDA fold.
The People’s Pulse poll suggests that despite new players adding colour to the race, the core battle remains between the NDA and the Grand Alliance. The Jan Suraaj Party, led by political strategist-turned-leader Prashant Kishor, was expected to emerge as a wild card but is projected to make only a limited impact in its debut. Similarly, AIMIM, which had previously secured a foothold in Seemanchal, appears to have lost ground, with the party likely reduced to one or two seats.
Political observers note that the NDA’s projection of over 130 seats, if accurate, would mark a return to dominance for Nitish Kumar and the BJP-led coalition after a campaign centred on stability and governance. For the opposition, however, the results could mean another period of introspection as it struggles to convert crowd enthusiasm into electoral success.
The final results will be announced on November 14, determining whether the People’s Pulse predictions reflect the will of Bihar’s voters — or if, as often in the state, the electorate has delivered a surprise.
