Bihar, November 16, 2025: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday asserted that her party would have won significantly more seats in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections had the polls been conducted in a completely free and fair manner. Addressing party workers on social media, she urged them to remain resilient despite the limited success the party registered across the state.

In a post on X, Mayawati congratulated BSP candidate Satish Kumar Singh Yadav for securing victory in the Ramgarh assembly constituency (No. 203) in Kaimur district. She praised the dedication and perseverance of party workers, claiming that their steadfast efforts thwarted attempts by the administration and opposition parties to manipulate the election outcome in favor of rival candidates. According to her, a conspiracy had allegedly emerged to defeat the BSP candidate through vote manipulation and recounting processes, but the unwavering determination of party workers ensured a narrow victory.

Satish Kumar Singh Yadav won the Ramgarh seat by a razor-thin margin of 30 votes, securing 72,689 votes and defeating his nearest rival, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ashok Kumar Singh. While this lone win may appear modest, Mayawati highlighted it as a testament to the courage and commitment of BSP cadres amid challenging circumstances. She emphasized that party members should not lose heart over the limited success but should instead focus on strengthening their groundwork and preparing more rigorously for future elections.

The BSP chief also claimed that her party gave strong competition to rivals in other constituencies across Bihar. “According to feedback, if the elections had been completely free and fair, the BSP would have certainly won many more seats,” she wrote, underlining her belief that systemic irregularities influenced the overall outcome. She urged party workers to maintain morale and continue their organizational work with greater energy and preparation.

The comments from Mayawati come in the wake of a sweeping victory for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, which decimated the Mahagathbandhan coalition. The NDA’s dominance in the 243-member assembly was highlighted by a near-three-fourths majority. The BJP, one of the NDA’s main constituents, increased its seat count to 89, up from 74 in 2020, while Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) nearly doubled its tally to 85 seats. Together, the alliance captured 202 of the 243 seats, signaling an overwhelming mandate from the electorate.

In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan suffered a severe setback. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the coalition’s largest party, saw its seat count plummet to 25, a sharp decline from 75 in the previous assembly elections. The Congress won only six of the 61 seats it contested, down from 19, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation managed two seats, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) secured just one. The total performance of the Mahagathbandhan amounted to a mere 34 seats, a historic low that has prompted widespread criticism from opposition leaders.

Mayawati’s remarks also echoed concerns raised by other opposition leaders regarding the conduct of the Bihar polls. Critics have alleged that the elections were marred by irregularities and alleged voter manipulation. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the outcome as a reflection of an “unfair process from the very beginning” and vowed an in-depth review to understand how the Mahagathbandhan and allied parties could not secure better results.

The BSP chief urged her party members to learn lessons from the election experience while acknowledging the challenges they faced. She emphasized that their lone victory in Ramgarh should serve as both a source of motivation and a reminder of the importance of vigilance, organization, and preparation for future electoral battles. By stressing the party’s potential under free and fair conditions, she framed the narrow win as an example of what could be achieved with more equitable elections.

This statement also underscores the broader political environment in Bihar, where electoral outcomes are often scrutinized for fairness and transparency. Opposition parties, including the RJD and Congress, have expressed concerns over potential voter suppression, administrative bias, and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Allegations of tampering and manipulation during the SIR process have been cited as contributing factors to the lopsided results, though election authorities maintain that the polls were conducted in accordance with legal and constitutional procedures.

Despite the limited success in Bihar, Mayawati’s message to her party remains clear: persistence, organizational discipline, and grassroots engagement are crucial for future electoral successes. By highlighting the dedication of party workers and the narrow win in Ramgarh, she emphasized that the BSP retains its capacity to challenge larger parties and make an impact even under challenging circumstances.

The Ramgarh constituency victory, achieved under trying conditions, serves as a symbol of resilience for the BSP. Mayawati’s statement reinforced the importance of active political mobilization, preparation for elections, and maintaining the morale of party cadres in the face of setbacks. While the NDA celebrated its overwhelming victory, Mayawati’s remarks highlighted the BSP’s resolve to continue fighting for representation and asserting its presence in Bihar politics.

As the political landscape in Bihar stabilizes following the assembly polls, the BSP is likely to intensify its efforts in organizing party units, connecting with voters, and highlighting issues of social justice, Dalit empowerment, and equitable development. Mayawati’s call for perseverance signals that the party is not deterred by limited electoral success and remains focused on long-term political objectives.

In conclusion, Mayawati’s comments reflect her belief that the BSP has the potential to win more seats under truly free and fair conditions. While the Bihar elections saw a historic sweep for the NDA, the BSP’s small but symbolically significant victory in Ramgarh underscores the party’s enduring presence. Mayawati urged party members to remain steadfast, learn from the electoral experience, and prepare rigorously for upcoming elections, signaling that the BSP intends to strengthen its foothold in Bihar despite current challenges.

The 2025 Bihar assembly elections, with their remarkable NDA victory and the corresponding setbacks for opposition parties, including the BSP, may serve as a defining moment in the state’s political trajectory. For Mayawati and the BSP, the focus will now shift to rebuilding, strategizing, and consolidating party support for the next electoral cycle.