Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: After suffering a massive setback in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 202 of 243 seats, leaders of the INDIA bloc — including Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Mallikarjun Kharge — accepted the results but alleged that the contest was “unfair from the beginning.”
Rahul Gandhi Calls Results ‘Truly Surprising’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed gratitude to voters who supported the Mahagathbandhan while describing the results as “truly surprising.” “We could not achieve victory in an election that was not fair from the start,” he said on X, adding that the opposition would “review the outcome deeply and make efforts to protect democracy more effectively.”
Tejashwi Alleges Vote Rigging
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who led the alliance as its chief ministerial face, accused the Election Commission of “vote chori.” Citing vote share data, he wrote, “RJD got 1.8 crore votes and 25 seats, BJP 96 lakh votes and 91 seats, JDU 90 lakh votes and 83 seats. Rigging can be carried out using system, agencies, and money power!” Despite the results, Tejashwi said the RJD still received the highest vote share at 23%, making it the most popular party by votes.
Kharge, Stalin Emphasize ‘Long Fight Ahead’
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the alliance respected the people’s decision but vowed to continue fighting “those weakening democracy by misusing constitutional institutions.” He promised a detailed review of the results, adding, “This fight is long — and we will continue it with dedication and truth.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, an INDIA bloc ally, congratulated Nitish Kumar on his victory but criticized the Election Commission, calling its reputation at “the lowest point.” Stalin added, “The citizens of this country deserve a stronger and impartial Election Commission.”
‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’: Opposition Congratulates NDA
Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) acknowledged the NDA’s triumph with a Bollywood reference — “Jo jeeta wohi sikandar” — and congratulated Nitish Kumar while pledging introspection.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi urged the opposition to focus more on women voters, noting their record-breaking turnout of 8.8% higher than men. “An alternative cannot be without them,” she wrote.
NDA’s Dominant Win
The BJP-JD(U)-LJP (Ram Vilas) alliance swept the polls, securing 202 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan was restricted to 35 — including 25 for RJD and 6 for Congress. The BSP, AIMIM, and Left parties together accounted for a handful of remaining seats.
