- Winning in Bihar, the third most populous state, with almost 130 million people, is crucial.
- Modi’s coalition far surpasses the majority mark of 122 seats in Bihar.
- The result would be a boost for Modi after the setback in the national elections in 2024.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling coalition is set to comfortably retain power in the poor, populous state of Bihar, a vote count showed on Friday, giving it a boost after a disappointing national vote last year.
Winning Bihar is crucial because it is India’s third most populous state, with nearly 130 million people, and sends the fifth largest number of lawmakers to Parliament. Control of the eastern state strengthens the power of any party in the Hindi heartland and often helps shape national political narratives.
Modi’s National Democratic Alliance coalition could easily cross the majority mark of 122 seats, with Election Commission of India data showing it was leading in more than 170 seats. television channel NDTV He said he was ahead with 191 seats, a potential gain of 69 seats from the last election.
“Bihar’s mandate is clear!” Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party said in X: “People have made it clear: development is identity now. Not jungle raj, good governance is needed!”
The Bihar result would mark a sharp setback for Modi, who lost his parliamentary majority in last year’s national elections and had to rely on allies to remain in power. Since then, his party has been steadily making up ground, winning several key state races.
Political analysts have said one of the key factors in the Bihar elections was Modi’s transfer in September of 75 billion rupees ($853 million) to millions of women in the state under an employment programme.
Women voters across India have gone to the polls in greater numbers over the past decade and political parties have competed to attract them. Previously, men vastly outnumbered women in polling stations in India.
Political analyst Amitabh Tiwari, who traveled across Bihar during the elections, which were held in two phases on November 6 and 11, said it was “only women” who were going to give Modi a better result than the one he received last time.
According to a poll conducted this week by Tiwari’s VoteVibe agency, Modi’s alliance won 48.5% of the female vote, more than 10 percentage points more than the main opposition bloc.
States like Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu will go to polls next year. Of those states, the BJP is in power only in Assam.
