The Bihar Assembly Election results of 2025 have emphatically re-established Nitish Kumar’s pivotal role in the state’s politics and his enduring importance to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Despite relentless speculation about his age, health, and political longevity, the verdict not only secured his path to a tenth term as Chief Minister but also silenced his critics, including poll strategist Prashant Kishor.

The NDA, comprising five parties, secured a landslide victory with 202 seats in the 243-member Assembly, completely routing the opposition Mahagathbandhan.

Here is a breakdown of why the poll numbers confirm Nitish Kumar’s “main character energy” and crucial role:

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1. The Numbers Vindicated the JD(U)

The JD(U)’s performance was a stunning comeback and a direct personal validation for Nitish Kumar after the party’s disappointing 43-seat tally in the 2020 election.

NDA Party	Seats Won (2025)	% of NDA Total
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)	89	44.06%
Janata Dal (United) (JD(U))	85	42.08%
LJP (Ram Vilas) (LJP(RV))	19	9.41%
Other NDA Allies (HAM(S) + RLM)	9	4.46%
NDA TOTAL	202	100%

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• Best Performance Since 2010: The JD(U)’s count of 85 seats is its best performance since the 2010 election and ensures it remains the second-largest party in the state.
• Near Parity with BJP: The JD(U)’s 85 seats are just 4 seats behind the BJP’s 89, confirming the pre-poll decision to contest an equal number of seats (101 each) and affirming a relatively equal partnership between the two main coalition members.
• Pro-Incumbency Mandate: Senior JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary called the result a “stamp of approvalfor the brand of development politics Nitish Kumar has done in Bihar over the past two decades,” arguing that the perceived anti-incumbency was actually pro-incumbency driven by voters’ high aspirations from him.

2. The “Stability Factor” and Social Engineering

Nitish Kumar is indispensable to the NDA in Bihar because he is the face of governance and stability, crucial for consolidating non-traditional votes.

• Sushasan Babu (Good Governance): The mandate is largely seen as a vote of gratitude towards Nitish Kumar for the development he ushered in after the “jungle raj” era. Voters, especially women, credited his welfare schemes (like free cycles for girls, prohibition, and targeted cash transfers) for their loyalty.
• Social Base: Nitish Kumar, despite belonging to the numerically small Kurmi caste (approx. 2.8% of the population), has successfully consolidated the support of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), non-Yadav Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Mahadalits through social engineering and tailored welfare schemes. This broad coalition is essential for the NDA to overpower the RJD’s formidable Yadav-Muslim (M-Y) base.
• Experience Over Youth: The election firmly rejected the opposition’s narrative focusing on Nitish’s age and health, showing voters preferred his experience and steady administration over the younger leadership offered by Tejashwi Yadav.

3. Crucial at the Centre (Lok Sabha Factor)

Beyond the state, Nitish Kumar’s continued political health is strategically vital for the BJP at the Centre.

• Lok Sabha 2024 Role: The 12 MPs from his party (the Lok Sabha number) were critical in helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi remain in office after the BJP fell short of a majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
• Key Ally Status: By delivering a massive 202-seat win in the Assembly, Nitish Kumar has reaffirmed his position as one of the BJP’s most significant and reliable regional allies, ensuring the stability of the NDA coalition at both the state and national level.

4. Changing Political Dynamics

The results immediately reversed the political dynamics within the state, most notably with Chirag Paswan (LJP-Ram Vilas), who had previously targeted the JD(U), publicly supporting Nitish Kumar.

• Paswan, whose party secured 19 seats, immediately met with Nitish Kumar after the results to discuss government formation, confirming that Nitish’s approval is necessary for his party’s inclusion, including securing a Deputy CM post. This signifies a return to unity within the NDA under the established leadership of Nitish Kumar.

Nitish Kumar, who has built an unmatched reputation for switching alliances, is now poised to lead Bihar for another full term, proving that, despite his frequent political “blips,” his “Brand of Development” and social coalition remain the single most defining factor in Bihar elections.