Following a disappointing performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has acknowledged the results with a measured response, emphasizing the inevitability of "ups and downs" in the political arena. Despite the setback, the party reaffirmed its commitment to representing the marginalized, asserting its identity as a "party of the poor".
The RJD's reaction, posted on X, conveyed a sense of resilience and determination to continue advocating for the underprivileged. "Public service is an unceasing process, an endless journey! Ups and downs are inevitable in it. No sorrow in defeat, no arrogance in victory! The Rashtriya Janata Dal is the party of the poor, it will continue to raise their voice among the poor!".
The 2025 Bihar election results mark a significant setback for the RJD, which contested 143 seats but managed to secure only 25. This performance is the second-worst in the party's history in Bihar, a stark contrast to its position as the single largest party in the 2020 state polls. In the 2005 Assembly polls, the RJD won 55 seats.
While the RJD's seat tally is disheartening, the party can draw some solace from achieving the highest vote share among all individual parties. The RJD secured 23% of the total votes, a slight decrease from the 23.11% it registered in the previous elections. In comparison, the BJP's vote share increased to 20.07% from 19.46% in 2020. The RJD got 1,15,46,055 votes, while the BJP got 1,00,81,143. The Congress, an ally in the Mahagathbandhan, won just six of the 61 seats it contested.
Political analysts suggest that the RJD's campaign strategy failed to resonate with the electorate's primary concerns. Despite Tejashwi Yadav's efforts to position himself as the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate and the party's focus on welfare promises, these initiatives did not translate into sufficient votes or a clear electoral advantage. The NDA's message proved more effective at the booth level.
Adding to the RJD's challenges, Tejashwi Yadav faced a tough fight in Raghopur, his family's stronghold, which undermined the party's image of invincibility. Cracks in coordination with alliance partners and visible tensions over seat-sharing further complicated the RJD's efforts to present a unified message.
The ruling NDA secured a decisive victory in Bihar, winning 202 of the 243 seats. The BJP led with 85 seats, followed by JD(U) with 77. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the NDA workers for their efforts in promoting the development agenda and countering the opposition's claims. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also thanked voters and alliance partners, emphasizing the "Unity" of the NDA.
In the aftermath of the election results, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed surprise and alleged that the election was unfair from the beginning. He affirmed the Congress and INDIA bloc would conduct a thorough review of the poll results.
