Modi-Led NDA Set to Retain Power in Bihar, Women Voters Drive Strong Comeback

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is poised to comfortably retain control of Bihar, with early vote counts on Friday showing the coalition leading in more than 170 seats—well above the 122-seat majority mark. Some broadcasters, including NDTV, projected the NDA ahead in as many as 191 seats, marking a significant gain of nearly 70 seats from the previous election. Winning Bihar, India’s third-most-populous state, provides a critical boost for Modi, especially after the BJP lost its parliamentary majority in last year’s national polls.

The Bihar mandate is seen as a major reversal of political fortunes for Modi, who has since been rebuilding support through successive state victories. The BJP celebrated the early trends on X, saying the results show that “development is the identity” of the state and that voters have chosen good governance over what it called “jungle raj.” Analysts point out that Bihar’s political weight—sending one of the highest numbers of lawmakers to Parliament—plays a key role in shaping national narratives.

A significant factor behind the NDA’s strong performance appears to be the decisive turnout of women voters. Experts, including political analyst Amitabh Tiwari, say Modi’s direct transfer of ₹75 billion to millions of women under an employment scheme in September contributed heavily to the surge in female support. Tiwari’s VoteVibe survey showed the NDA securing 48.5% of women’s votes—over 10 percentage points more than the opposition. With major elections approaching in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu next year, the Bihar outcome may signal broader momentum for the ruling alliance.

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