BS EDIT: Bihar’s Mandate and the Road Ahead

By Business StandardPublished On Nov 17, 2025

Mandate Without Doubt

The NDA’s strong win and the BJP’s rise as the largest party show Bihar’s clear support and mark a key step in its eastern expansion

Stability After Setbacks

Recent state wins help the NDA recover from its 2024 Lok Sabha dip and offer a stable platform to focus on governance

Development Gaps Persist

Bihar has improved, but with one-third of its people still multidimensionally poor, faster, deeper investment is essential

Fiscal Strain Ahead

New subsidies, pensions, and welfare schemes may stretch Bihar’s limited revenue base and high debt burden further

Women at the Centre

High turnout reflects Nitish Kumar’s long-term push for women’s empowerment. States must now convert gains into wider outcomes

Timing of Welfare Matters

Pre-poll benefits like the ₹10,000 transfer may not decide results alone but raise fair-play questions and merit wider debate