Bihar results stun: Tejashwi survives Raghopur scare, Anant Singh wins from jail — surprise wins and losses | India News – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Many surprising wins and losses marked Friday’s results as Bihar finalised its mandate, delivering a sweeping victory to the NDA and extending its nearly two-decade-long dominance under chief minister Nitish Kumar, who has switched alliances several times over the years very conveniently.What was expected to be a close contest between the ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan instead turned into a decisive, one-sided mandate. The NDA is poised to comfortably cross the 200-seat mark in the 243-member assembly, while the Mahagathbandhan has collapsed to under 40 seats.
The grand old party — Congress, once a major force in the state, has been reduced to a near-wipeout, winning hardly about 10 per cent of the 61 seats it contested.The verdict also produced several striking wins and unexpected defeats across Bihar. While JD(U) strongman Anant Singh retained his bastion, many prominent figures in Patna failed to secure victories.
Winners
Tejashwi Yadav
Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial face and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav eventually retained his family stronghold of Raghopur in Vaishali district after a tense, fluctuating contest. Throughout the day, he alternated between leads and trails, making the outcome far from the comfortable victory his family traditionally enjoyed from this seat.In 2020, Tejashwi had secured Raghopur with ease. He won again this time, but without the dominance that pollsters or supporters expected.
Anant Singh from Mokama
JD(U) heavyweight Anant Singh once again proved his unshakable hold over Mokama. Despite being jailed in connection with the recent killing of Jan Suraaj worker Dular Chand Yadav and facing repeated allegations of muscle power, Singh secured yet another victory.Just days before polling, he was taken into custody in the same case, yet voters reaffirmed their trust in him as they have many times before. Known for his trademark sunglasses and brief, punchy remarks to the media, Singh emerged victorious even from behind bars.
Maithili Thakur from Alinagar
Folk singer and influencer Maithili Thakur, contesting her first election on a BJP ticket, won comfortably from Alinagar by more than 11,000 votes, defeating veteran RJD leader Binod Mishra. This makes her the youngest MLA in the Bihar assembly.The BJP’s gamble on her reach and cultural appeal paid off—the party has won this seat for the first time since 2008. Alinagar, in Darbhanga district and part of the Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency, saw a three-way contest involving Thakur, Mishra, and Jan Suraaj’s Biplaw Chaudhary.
Losers
Khesari Lal Yadav from Chapra
Bhojpuri star Khesari Lal Yadav, fielded by the BJP from Chapra in Saran district, failed to convert his popularity into votes. Unlike other film stars who transitioned successfully into politics—such as Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari, or Dinesh Lal “Nirahua” Yadav—Khesari struggled from the beginning.He eventually lost by over 10,000 votes to BJP’s Chhoti Kumari. For the RJD, which had backed him despite his limited political experience, his defeat was a major embarrassment.
Tej Pratap Yadav from Mahua
Tej Pratap Yadav, son of former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, estranged from the RJD, and founder of the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) suffered a significant defeat in Mahua. Contesting from the same district as his brother Tejashwi and from a seat he once held, Tej Pratap was unable to mobilise support for his new party, resulting in a heavy loss.
Yusuf Salahuddin from Simri Bakhtiarpur
In Simri Bakhtiarpur, RJD leader and sitting MLA Yusuf Salahuddin, son of veteran politician and former parliamentarian Mehboob Ali Kaiser, was defeated by Sanjay Kumar Singh of the Chirag Paswan-led LJP (RV). Sanjay won by more than 7,000 votes, marking another high-profile setback for the RJD.
