NDA Secures 202 Seats in Bihar Assembly Polls

In a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance, Bihar's ruling coalition secured 202 seats in the 243-member state assembly elections held last week, paving the way for Janata Dal United leader Nitish Kumar to return as chief minister for a record 10th time. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for November 20 at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, following the formal dissolution of the current assembly.

The Election Commission data confirmed the NDA's commanding performance, with the Bharatiya Janata Party winning 89 seats from the 101 constituencies it contested, the Janata Dal United securing 85, and allies including the Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas taking 19, Hindustani Awam Morcha three, Rashtriya Lok Morcha four, and smaller partners the remainder. The opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, and Left parties, managed only 35 seats, with the RJD leading at 25, Congress at six, and the Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist Liberation at two. The Bahujan Samaj Party and Independent candidates each won one seat. A majority requires 122 seats, ensuring the NDA's unchallenged path to forming the government.