Bihar polls 2025: RJD tops vote share at 22.76% despite leading in fewer seats than BJP-JD(U)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) secured a higher vote share of 22.76% compared to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 20.90% and Janata Dal (United) JDU's 18.92% in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, despite having fewer than half the number of seats.

BJP and JDU are heading for a landslide victory, leading in 179 seats. Meanwhile, RJD is leading in 24 seats. However, according to ECI data, RJD has the highest vote share in the state at 22.76%.

Bihar Legislative Assembly elections were conducted in two phases to elect 243 members to the state assembly. Voting for the first phase, covering 121 seats, took place on 6 November, while polling for the second phase, covering 122 seats, was November 11.

JD(U), BJP, and their allies are leading in many constituencies, shifting the focus from speculation to coalition calculations and portfolio negotiations. The rapid progress of NDA highlights the ongoing strength of its political organisation in Bihar.

What do numbers indicate?

According to the Election Commission's data, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party, leading in 95 seats, while CM Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) led on nearly 85 assembly seats as of 3:45 pm on Friday, November 14.

The NDA is leading in a combined total of 204 seats, with the BJP at 95, JD(U) at 85, LJP (Ram Vilas) at 19, HAM at 5, and RLM at 4. The opposition RJD leads in 24 seats, Congress in 1, CPI(ML) in 4, while CPI(M) in 2 and BSP in 1. AIMIM leads in 6 constituencies.

Opposition blames ECI

Congress leaders responded to the disappointing Bihar election results. MP Manickam Tagore criticised the removal of 65 lakh voters, while Pawan Khera accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of undermining democracy.

Congress leaders have responded strongly to their poor performance in the Bihar elections, with MP Manickam Tagore commenting on X.“When you delete 65 lakh voters--mostly from the Opposition's voters --what do you expect on result day? Democracy cannot survive if the playing field is tilted before the match even begins,” Tagore.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera blamed the results on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying, “As I said, the initial trends in itself show that Gyanesh Kumar appears to be succeeding against the people of Bihar. This fight is not between the BJP, Congress, RJD, and JDU. This is a direct fight between Gyanesh Kumar and the people of India.”