The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Saturday responded to its heavy defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections with a message of composure and continuity, declaring that public service remains an “endless journey” in which “ups and downs are inevitable”.
In a post on X, the party described itself as the “party of the poor” and vowed to continue raising their concerns despite its weakened position in the House. “Public service is an unceasing process, an endless journey. Ups and downs are inevitable in it. No sorrow in defeat, no arrogance in victory,” it said in Hindi.
The Tejashwi Yadav-led party secured just 25 seats in the 243-member Assembly, marking its second-worst performance since 2010, when it had managed 22. The result is a sharp fall from its tally of 75 in the 2020 elections, though the party registered the highest vote share this time, securing 23 per cent—nearly three percentage points more than the BJP and over 3.7 percentage points more than the JD(U).
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The broader Mahagathbandhan also fared poorly, managing only 35 seats. The Congress won six seats, down from 19, while the CPI(ML)L took two, the CPI(M) one, and the CPI drew a blank.
The ruling NDA, overcoming anti-incumbency pressures, secured a sweeping mandate with 202 seats. The BJP won 89 seats and the JD(U) 85, while the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) took 19. The Hindustani Awam Morcha claimed five, and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha secured four.
The AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi won five seats, but the Jan Suraaj Party led by Prashant Kishor and the Vikassheel Insaan Party failed to open their accounts.
Bihar voted in two phases on 6 and 11 November, recording a turnout of over 66 per cent, its highest since 1951. Female voters outnumbered men, with a turnout of 71.6 per cent compared with 62.8 per cent among male electors.
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