India, Nov. 15 -- The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections delivered a decisive mandate, reshaping the state's politics and firmly positioning the BJP-led NDA as the dominant force. Sailing past the 200-seat mark in the 243-member House, the NDA decimated the Mahagathbandhan. Whether Nitish Kumar returns as chief minister for a fifth consecutive term remains open, but the verdict reaffirmed his enduring political relevance and strengthened the "double-engine government" narrative promoted by the BJP.

Even critics acknowledged the sheer scale of the NDA's victory-greater than the most ambitious projections. Home Minister Amit Shah had predicted 160-plus seats, but the final count exceeded even internal expectations. The NDA's gains cut across ca...