JDU Surges Ahead, Emerges Single-Largest Party In Early Bihar Poll Trends

• JDU leading in 76 of the 101 seats it contested; BJP ahead on 69.
• NDA tally crosses 160, indicating a comfortable path to form government.
• RJD leads in 59 seats, Congress in 16; Jan Suraaj ahead in two.
• Nitish Kumar poised for a 10th oath-taking if trends hold.

GG News Bureau
Patna, 14th Nov: Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) is making a sweeping comeback in Bihar, emerging as the single-largest party in the initial rounds of counting. By 9:56 am, the JDU had taken decisive leads in 76 of the 101 seats it contested, signalling a robust endorsement of Nitish Kumar’s leadership even after two decades in power.

Its ally, the BJP, is also delivering a strong performance with leads in 69 constituencies. Together, the National Democratic Alliance has crossed the 160-seat mark, comfortably above the majority threshold. With several rounds of counting still underway, officials caution that the trends may fluctuate, but the early numbers indicate a clear edge for the ruling alliance.

On the Opposition front, the Rashtriya Janata Dal is leading in 59 seats, while the Congress trails with leads in just 16 constituencies. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, which entered the electoral arena with high expectations, is currently ahead in only two seats.

The JDU’s commanding performance underscores its continued dominance in the state’s political landscape, defying earlier speculation that it had become the weaker partner within the NDA. If the party retains its pole position through the final results, it will mirror the outcomes of the 2005 and 2010 elections, where the JDU also outshone its allies and opponents alike.

The Mahagathbandhan’s campaign tactic of raising questions about Nitish Kumar’s health and projecting Tejashwi Yadav as a younger alternative appears to have fallen short. Despite political realignments over the past 20 years, Nitish Kumar’s governance record seems to have remained a stabilising factor for voters navigating a highly competitive electoral environment.

Should Nitish Kumar return as Chief Minister once again, it will mark the 10th time he has taken the oath — a milestone that reinforces his enduring imprint on Bihar’s political fabric.