When the results of the 2025 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election started streaming in, one remark stood out: home-minister Amit Shah’s earlier confident prediction that the NDA would win more than 160 seats. Early trends showed just that — the alliance was leading in 162 seats as counting progressed.
The Prediction and the Reality
Back during the campaign, Shah had declared to press that the NDA would “win 160 seats (and) form the government with two-thirds majority”. His early call now seems vindicated, as the alliance lead surged ahead of opposing blocs.
What the numbers show
Early trends had the NDA ahead in 141 seats within a few hours of counting commencement.
Further updates indicated the lead climbing to 160+ seats for the NDA.
Meanwhile, the opposition-alliance — the Mahagathbandhan led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress — remained behind in the count.
What it means politically
For the NDA, this performance is not just a win – it’s a strong reaffirmation of its political grip in Bihar. For the BJP and its ally Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), it signals a consolidation of power and perhaps a shift in the internal alliance dynamics. As one report noted: “the ruling coalition’s three strategic pillars – Nitish Kumar’s experience, a decisive women’s vote and favourable social arithmetic” are all playing out.
For the Mahagathbandhan, the wide lead by the NDA raises serious questions about its strategy, campaign message, and grassroots connect.
Why this result matters
It underlines how early predictions and strategy (such as focusing on women, youth and caste alliances) can translate into major electoral outcomes.
The scale of the lead gives the winning alliance a strong mandate – and hence higher room to shape policies, governance, and political narrative.
It also sets the tone for national politics: Bihar, being a big and politically significant state, often sends signals to the broader Indian electoral landscape.
Watch-points moving forward
How the NDA distributes leadership posts and portfolios among alliance partners will be closely watched – especially the BJP vs JD(U) balance.
Will the opposition regroup and strategise for better performance in the next cycle?
How will governance changes post-victory translate on ground in education, health, employment, and infrastructure?
What does this mean for caste, gender, and regional dynamics in Bihar’s politics over the next few years?
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah’s public projection of 160+ seats appears to be aligning with early counting trends.
The NDA seems set to form government smoothly with a comfortable margin — giving it not just power, but also momentum.
The campaign’s narrative around women and youth, as noted by analysts, appears to have resonated.
Opposition parties will need to introspect — major wins like this often trigger shifts in strategy and voter-engagement focus.
FAQ
Q1. What was the seat target the NDA set and how close did they get?
The NDA target, as announced by Amit Shah, was 160+ seats – and counting trends show them crossing or nearing that mark.
Q2. Does this mean the NDA has won every seat?
No — while leads above 160 indicate a comfortable majority out of 243 seats, not every seat is won or decided yet at the time of reporting.
Q3. How does this compare to the opposition bloc’s performance?
The Mahagathbandhan is trailing significantly in the early trends, which suggests the NDA’s lead is substantial rather than marginal.
Q4. What role did regional parties like JD(U) play?
JD(U)—led by Nitish Kumar—played a significant role in this election, reversing some of its earlier dip in performance and showing renewed strength.
Q5. What will next steps be for the winning alliance?
Forming the government, allocating ministries/portfolios, setting their governance agenda, and implementing manifesto promises will be top priorities now.