Patna: In the wake of the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) landslide victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi devoted a significant portion of his victory speech to praising the Election Commission of India (ECI) and addressing allegations of “vote chori” raised by Congress leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing party workers and supporters at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Modi framed the Bihar results as a “victory of democracy” and a testament to the robustness of India’s electoral institutions. “The Election Commission was targeted by some people, but the huge voter turnout is an achievement for the EC,” Modi said. He emphasized that despite attempts to discredit the process, Bihar had delivered a peaceful and transparent election, setting a benchmark for the rest of the country.

Modi indirectly countered Rahul Gandhi’s repeated claims of “vote chori” during the Bihar polls, framing such allegations as part of a pattern of attacks by the Congress on constitutional bodies. Without naming Gandhi explicitly, he remarked, “Allegations like ‘vote chori’ were made as part of continued attacks on constitutional bodies.” He went further to describe the Congress as a “parjeevi” or parasite party, warning its allies that the party contributes little to alliances other than seeking votes from others.

Highlighting the scale of the NDA’s triumph, Modi pointed out that the Congress was reduced to single-digit wins in the 243-member assembly, while the RJD managed to secure only a few more seats. By contrast, the NDA was on track to surpass the 200-seat mark, with strong performances from the BJP and JD(U), along with support from allies such as Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV) and Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

The prime minister praised the record voter turnout in Bihar, which reached 67.13%, the highest since 1951. Notably, women voters outnumbered men, with a turnout of 71.6% compared to 62.8% for men. “I express my gratitude to the Election Commission, all its officials, the security personnel for the record turnout and peaceful election process,” Modi said. He noted that unlike in previous elections, there were no repolls ordered, marking a significant improvement in electoral conduct.

Modi also drew attention to Bihar’s historical context of electoral challenges. Referring to Maoist-affected areas, he recalled that voting used to end early at 3 pm due to security concerns. He contrasted this with the 2025 election, stating, “But in this election, people in Bihar have voted without fear, with enthusiasm and excitement.” He further referenced the era of “jungle raj” under RJD regimes, saying, “Violence used to occur openly at polling stations. Ballot boxes were looted. Today, the same Bihar is seeing record voter turnout. It is voting peacefully. Everyone’s vote has been recorded. Everyone has cast their vote as per their choice.”

The NDA’s stronghold in Bihar was attributed not just to the performance of the main parties, BJP and JD(U), but also to a cohesive alliance strategy. The prime minister lauded the contributions of key NDA allies, including Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha, whose combined support helped consolidate votes and broaden the alliance’s appeal across the state.

Modi described the Bihar results as “a victory of good governance, development, public welfare, and social justice,” reinforcing the narrative that the electorate rewarded the NDA for its governance record. He expressed gratitude to the people of Bihar for placing their trust in the alliance, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “My deepest gratitude to the family members of Bihar, who have blessed the NDA with a historic and unprecedented victory in the 2025 assembly elections. This resounding public mandate will empower us to serve the people and work with new resolve for Bihar.”

The prime minister also emphasized the role of the NDA in ensuring inclusive and comprehensive development in the state. “The NDA has ensured all-round development of the state. The people have given us a massive majority after witnessing our track record and our vision to take the state to new heights,” he wrote, acknowledging Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his NDA colleagues for their roles in securing the resounding victory.

Modi’s speech underscored two key messages: first, that the Election Commission’s credibility and the integrity of the democratic process had been vindicated, and second, that the Congress, despite its rhetoric, had failed to resonate with Bihar’s electorate. By combining praise for the EC, acknowledgment of voter enthusiasm, and a pointed critique of opposition parties, Modi positioned the NDA’s victory as a reaffirmation of governance, development, and public trust.

In summation, Modi’s address celebrated Bihar’s electoral achievement, highlighted the NDA’s effective alliance management, and countered allegations of irregularities. The speech reinforced the narrative that Bihar’s voters had endorsed the NDA not just for political reasons, but for its record in governance, stability, and development, setting a tone for future electoral contests at both state and national levels.