As the trends pointed to a massive victory for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Bihar Assembly Elections, political leaders across Maharashtra have reacted to the verdict. While the leaders from the ruling Mahayuti have called the trends a mandate for “vikas raj”, the opposition has said the verdict is a result of an “Election Commission (EC)–BJP nexus” and split in minority votes.
Eknath Shinde: Bihar has embraced ‘vikas raj’ over ‘jungle raj’
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde hailed the emerging mandate as a decisive turn towards development.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde said the people of Bihar had “rejected jungle raj and embraced vikas raj”, adding that the strong participation of women voters played a crucial role.
“Bihar has voted for development under Nitish Kumar and Modi’s leadership. Similarly, women (laadki bahin) ensured the NDA got a landslide win just like Maharashtra (in the 2024 assembly polls),” he stated.
The Maharashtra Deputy CM also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for the “historic mandate”.
His son and Kalyan Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde, described the outcome as “an emphatic vote of confidence in the visionary leadership” of PM Modi.
“The people of Bihar have delivered a clear and unmistakable message — they have rejected the forces of corruption, chaos and jungle raj, and chosen the path of Mangal Raj, development and dignity,” said the lawmaker.
Launching a strong attack on the Opposition, he further stated, “The Congress slipping to single digits exposes a simple truth — Rahul Gandhi commands zero political credibility… Their caste card, their communal card, their fabricated narratives — everything has collapsed.”
Bihar Election Results 2025: Ajit Pawar says mandate given for ‘good governance’
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar echoed the optimism of his cabinet colleague, and stated, “Bihar has voted for good governance and a progressive future, by choosing the NDA to lead the state and its people.”
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader said the results reflected trust in stable leadership and development-focused governance.
Sanjay Raut: ‘Not shocking — this is the Maharashtra pattern’
While the Mahayuti leaders rejoiced the incoming trends, the Opposition has alleged foul play.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed the NDA’s near–landslide as unsurprising, alleging an “Election Commission–BJP national agenda” at work.
In a sharp post on X, Raut said: “There is no need to be shocked by the Bihar Assembly election results… Looking at the national agenda being carried out hand-in-hand by the Election Commission and the BJP, a different outcome than this was simply not possible. This is exactly like the Maharashtra pattern.”
The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that the alliance expected to form the government had been pushed “below 50 seats”.
Waris Pathan: RJD, Congress split minority votes
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan, reacting from Mumbai as the counting continued, accused the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal–Congress Mahagathbandhan of “dividing minority votes”.
Rejecting allegations that AIMIM played as “BJP’s B team”, Pathan said his party’s leads were a “huge boost” and expressed hope of winning seven–eight seats.
“The RJD and Congress are themselves responsible for the division of minority votes… We had offered them the opportunity to come together by seeking only six seats, but they refused,” said Pathan.
He added that similar behaviour had cost the opposition in Maharashtra as well.
Criticising the Mahagathbandhan’s choice of Deputy CM face, he said: “There was a tactical mistake… they declared a man from a 2 per cent voter base… while the community with 19 per cent voter base was completely neglected, and the results are visible.”
The NDA is heading for a landslide in Bihar Election Results 2025, with leads in more than 180 of 243 seats, and the BJP on track to record its strongest-ever tally in the state.
(With PTI inputs)