The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections delivered a result many had expected, but the intensity of the victory surprised several observers. Caste alignments and alliance partners continued to matter, yet welfare delivery emerged as a central, though not exclusive, factor shaping the verdict.

The National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) governance record and leadership, combined with the well-timed and highly visible rollout of welfare schemes, blurred the line between routine governance and election-focused initiatives. Evidence from a post-poll survey conducted by PollsMap reinforces this: welfare schemes in Bihar reached people on an impressive scale, and voters knew whom to credit, shaping their political perceptions and choices.

Welfare penetration

Welfare penetration during the Janata Da

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