Patna: As voting for the Bihar Assembly elections concluded on Tuesday, multiple exit polls projected a decisive victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), predicting that the ruling coalition will secure between 130 and 160 seats.
The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which had campaigned on promises of change and development, is expected to fall short, winning only 70 to 100 seats, according to most surveys.
The People Pulse survey estimated that the NDA could bag 133 to 159 seats, the Mahagathbandhan between 75 and 101, while Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party may manage 0 to 5 seats, and others could get 2 to 8 seats. Similarly, a Dainik Bhaskar poll projected the NDA at 145 to 160 seats and the Mahagathbandhan at 73 to 91, with Jansuraaj unlikely to win any seats.
The DVC Research survey echoed similar trends, forecasting 137 to 152 seats for the NDA, 83 to 98 for the Mahagathbandhan, 2 to 4 for Jan Suraaj, and 4 to 8 for other parties.
Meanwhile, Bihar witnessed an impressive 67.14 percent voter turnout during the second phase of polling on Tuesday, as per Election Commission data. Kishanganj led with the highest turnout at 76.26 percent, followed by Katihar at 75.23 percent and Purnia at 73.79 percent. Nawada recorded the lowest voter participation at 57.11 percent.
In the first phase, the state had registered a turnout of 65.08 percent, with all political parties interpreting the strong participation as a positive sign for their respective alliances.
The 2025 Bihar elections feature a direct contest between the NDA — comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha — and the Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alongside the Congress, CPI(ML), CPI, CPM, and the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP).
Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj is contesting independently across all constituencies, emerging as a potential third front.
In the 2020 assembly elections, the NDA had secured 125 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan won 110. The BJP had bagged 74 seats, JD(U) 43, RJD 75, and Congress 19.
