Bihar Upset: BJP Landslide Marks 13th Opposition Defeat in North India Since Modi Era
Image Source: Internet
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a landslide victory in the Bihar assembly election, marking the 13th opposition defeat in North India since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. The Grand Alliance, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), managed a dismal 35 seats, while the BJP's allies secured 202 seats. The Congress, a once-dominant force in North India, has struggled to regain its footing, winning just six of the 61 seats it contested in the 2025 Bihar election, with a strike rate of 9.8%. This is a significant decline from its 2020 performance, where it won 19 seats with a strike rate of 27%. Analysts point to several factors that contributed to the Grand Alliance's poor showing, including the haphazard distribution of seats, inadequate communication efforts, and a failure to connect with the Extremely Backward Castes (EBCs). The Congress's reliance on the Yadav-Muslim vote bank also proved ineffective, as the Janata Dal (United) under Nitish Kumar's leadership managed to win over the EBCs. The BJP, on the other hand, successfully reached out to various sections of society, including the upper castes, EBCs, and Dalit sub-castes. The party's focus on pressing issues, such as governance and development, also resonated with voters. The Bihar election outcome highlights the challenges faced by opposition parties in North India, where the BJP has maintained a strong grip on power. As the party continues to dominate the region, it remains to be seen whether the opposition can regroup and mount a stronger challenge in the future.
