Bihar has a total of 243 assembly seats. Elections were held in three phases – on October 28, November 3, and November 7, 2020. The results were declared on November 10, 2020. The main contest was between the NDA and the Grand Alliance. The NDA comprised the BJP, JDU, VIP, and HAM, while the Grand Alliance comprised the RJD, Congress, and Left parties (CPI, CPM, CPI-ML).
Election issues: unemployment, migrant workers' problems (coronavirus period), floods, development, and caste equations. Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister for the fourth time, but the alliance remained strained.
Bihar Elections 2020: Party-Wise Seats
Here is the complete list of party-wise seats in the Bihar 2020 elections. The NDA secured a majority (122) by winning 125 seats, while the Grand Alliance was reduced to 110.
NDA Seats in Bihar 2020
- BJP: 74 seats (contested a total of 110)
- JDU: 43 seats (contested a total of 115)
- VIP: 4 seats
- HAM: 4 seats
- NDA Total: 125 seats
Mahagathbandhan Seats in Bihar 2020
- RJD: 75 seats (contested a total of 144) – became the largest party
- Congress: 19 seats (contested a total of 70)
- CPI-ML: 12 seats
- CPI: 2 seats
- CPM: 2 seats
- Total Mahagathbandhan: 110 seats
Other Parties and Independents
- LJP: 1 seat (Chirag Paswan's party, contested separately from the NDA)
- AIMIM: 5 seats (Asaduddin Owaisi's party, strong in Seemanchal)
- BSP: 1 seat
- Independents and Others: 1 seat
- Total Others: 8 seats
| Party | Seats Won | Vote Percentage | Alliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| RJD | 75 | 23.11% | Mahagathbandhan |
| BJP | 74 | 19.46% | NDA |
| JD(U) | 43 | 15.39% | NDA |
| INC | 19 | 9.48% | Mahagathbandhan |
| CPI(ML) (L) | 12 | 3.16% | Mahagathbandhan |
| AIMIM | 5 | 1.24% | Independent/Other |
| HAM(S) | 4 | 0.89% | NDA |
| VIP | 4 | 1.52% | NDA |
| CPI | 2 | 0.83% | Mahagathbandhan |
| CPI(M) | 2 | 0.65% | Mahagathbandhan |
| BSP | 1 | 1.49% | Independent |
| LJP | 1 | 5.66% | Independent |
| Independent | 1 | 8.64% | Independent |
Performance Analysis of Major Parties
1. RJD – Tejashwi Yadav's Rising Power: RJD emerged as the largest party, but the alliance lost. Tejashwi Yadav attracted youth by promising 10 lakh jobs. He lost by a narrow margin (0.03%) in vote share.
2. BJP – Most Seats: The BJP won more seats than the JDU, a setback for Nitish Kumar. The Modi-Shah rallies had an impact.
3. JDU – Nitish Kumar's Weak Performance: Nitish's party won the fewest seats. The LJP caused damage to the NDA.
4. Congress – Disappointing Results: Only 19 out of 70 seats – the weak link in the Grand Alliance.
5. Left Parties and AIMIM: The Left won 16 seats, which was a surprise. AIMIM cut into Muslim votes in Seemanchal.
Key Issues and Impacts of the Bihar Elections 2020
- COVID-19 and Lockdown: The return of migrant workers is a major issue.
- Caste Equations: Yadavs, Muslims, Dalits vs. Kushwahas, EBCs.
- Women's Vote: The Impact of the Prohibition Policy.
- Electoral Violence and EVM Controversies: Disputes in Some Areas.
The results led to Nitish Kumar's re-election as Chief Minister, but he changed his alliance in 2024 and joined the Grand Alliance.
About the Author:
Arjit Kumar
