Patna: Bihar’s assembly election results have delivered a sweeping victory for the NDA, which is set to form the new government on November 20. But beneath the headline numbers lies a pattern that has sparked fresh debate in political circles: Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) received almost the same share of votes as the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option.
According to figures published by the Election Commission, AIMIM secured 1.85% of the vote, while NOTA accounted for 1.81%. The narrow gap has drawn interest for what it may signal about voter sentiment and disenchantment with mainstream parties.
An AIMIM worker said the similarity was “not just statistical”, arguing that voters who chose the party’s symbol or pressed NOTA were expressing a shared sense of dissatisfaction. In both cases, he claimed, the votes reflected frustration with the broader political landscape.
Several established parties, including the CPI, CPI(M), Mayawati’s BSP and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, polled fewer votes than NOTA. Analysts say the slump of these traditional outfits warrants deeper examination.
Political observers note that the NCP’s influence in Bihar has diminished sharply since the exit of senior leader Tariq Anwar. Meanwhile, the CPI, CPI(M) and BSP — all of which have had longstanding organisational presence in the state — delivered unexpectedly weak performances.
The decline of the CPI is seen as especially striking. Once a significant force in Bihar’s politics, the party has been steadily losing ground, revealing a shrinking support base and raising questions about its future relevance in the state.
