Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling NDA alliance is set to easily retain power in the populous state of Bihar, vote counts showed on Friday (November 14), a welcome improvement after last year’s disappointing national elections.
The National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) victory in the Bihar assembly elections is crucial, as the state sends the fifth-highest number of lawmakers to Parliament. Control of India’s third-most populous state strengthens the power of any party and often helps shape the national political narrative.
Modi’s NDA alliance has crossed the majority mark of more than 122 seats, with a lead of more than 170 seats, according to data from the Election Commission of India. NDTV said the alliance is leading in 191 seats, a potential increase of 69 seats from the last election.
The Bihar election results will be a boost for Modi, who lost his parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections and has had to rely on allies to stay in power. Since then, his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has steadily regained ground, winning several key state contests.
Political analysts say one of the key factors in the Bihar election was Modi’s September transfer of 75 billion rupees ($853 million) to millions of women in the state under a scheme called the “Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.”
Women voters have become increasingly numerous across India in the last decade, and political parties have competed to attract them with various schemes.
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Assembly elections are due next year in states including Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Of these states, the BJP is in power only in Assam and has not been able to form governments in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
This article includes reporting from Reuters.