The counting of votes for the highly anticipated Bihar Assembly Election 2025 began at 8 am on Friday, November 14, setting off an intense day of political suspense across the state. Early trends showed a sweeping lead for the NDA, spearheaded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which surged ahead in over 200 constituencies—signaling a decisive electoral shift in its favour. At the same time, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) showcased a remarkable presence by leading in six constituencies, including Bahadurganj, Baisi, Jokihat, Thakurganj, Kochadhaman, and Amour. With a massive turnout of 67.13% across the two-phase election held on November 6 and 11, this year’s polls marked one of the highest participation rates in the state’s electoral history.
A major highlight of the early results was the unexpected setback for RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate, Tejashwi Yadav. Contesting from Raghopur—an iconic stronghold of the Lalu Prasad Yadav family—Tejashwi found himself trailing behind BJP’s Satish Kumar Yadav, sparking discussions across political circles. The Raghopur seat holds deep symbolic value for the RJD, having been represented in the past by both Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, and twice secured by Tejashwi himself in 2015 and 2020. Despite his previous victory margin of over 38,000 votes in the last election, 2025 appears to have brought a dramatically tougher contest.
To ensure smooth and transparent counting, authorities deployed extensive security arrangements across all counting centres in the state. Over 106 companies of security personnel from outside Bihar, along with adequate units of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and state police, were stationed under a strict two-tier security protocol. Officials confirmed that the EVMs and VVPATs were secured in strong rooms using a double-lock system, monitored round-the-clock by CCTV. With a total of 7.45 crore eligible voters deciding the fate of 2,616 candidates, the state remains on high alert as the day progresses and final results edge closer, shaping the political landscape for the next five years.
