Early trends in Bihar’s 2025 Assembly election counting have handed the NDA a massive lead on over 200 seats, leaving the Mahagathbandhan struggling with just 35–40. The stunning shift has triggered outrage across opposition ranks, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah joining the chorus by raising “vote theft” suspicions. He compared the situation to alleged irregularities in Maharashtra and Haryana, calling for a probe into the Mahagathbandhan’s collapse.
Siddaramaiah’s Sharp Attack: ‘We Must Accept the Verdict, But…’
Speaking to reporters mid-count, Siddaramaiah said, “I didn’t visit Bihar, but I will examine the reasons behind the Mahagathbandhan’s defeat. Doubts about vote theft are natural, especially for the opposition.” He added, “We have to accept the people’s decision,” while invoking Jawaharlal Nehru’s legacy of planned development and questioning transparency in the current system.
Opposition’s ‘Vote Theft’ Campaign: SIR and ECI Under Fire
Opposition leaders targeted the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Under SIR, nearly 6 million voters—mostly minorities, women, and migrant workers—were removed from the rolls. Congress MP Manickam Tagore claimed, “Over 10% of voters were deleted, mainly from opposition strongholds. This was a conspiracy.” Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot accused the ECI of failing to curb cash distribution, while SP chief Akhilesh Yadav branded SIR a “BJP trick” and pledged PDA as “sentinels” to block future manipulation.
Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram pointed to “server vans” and booth irregularities. Independent leader Pappu Yadav labeled the NDA a “trio of lies, money, and theft,” and AAP MP Sanjay Singh repeated vote theft charges. Protests erupted outside Congress HQ in Delhi with “Vote Theft” posters.
| Leader/Party | Main Allegation | Key Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Siddaramaiah (Congress) | Vote theft via SIR | “Suspicions like Maharashtra-Haryana now in Bihar” |
| Ashok Gehlot (Congress) | ECI collusion, ₹10,000 payouts to women | “Model code violations continue” |
| Akhilesh Yadav (SP) | SIR as ‘game’, BJP as ‘deceit’ | “PPTV (PDA sentinels) will foil them” |
| Pappu Yadav (Independent) | Lies, cash, theft trio | “Women and youth were with opposition” |
| Rajesh Ram (Bihar Congress) | Server vans, booth tampering | “Creates doubt for opposition” |
NDA’s Dominant Show: Nitish Kumar Set for Fifth Term
Per ECI data, the NDA leads on 204 seats—BJP (92), JD(U) (82), LJP(RV) (21). The Mahagathbandhan trails with RJD (26), Congress (4), and CPI(ML) (2). Tejashwi Yadav lags in Raghopur, while Tej Pratap Yadav finishes fourth in Mahua. NDA leaders celebrate it as a “good governance” win, while the opposition slams SIR as “voter suppression.”
Final results expected by evening. NDA camps in Patna have prepared 500 kg of laddus.
Tags: Bihar Election 2025, vote theft allegations, Siddaramaiah statement, NDA lead, Mahagathbandhan defeat, SIR controversy, ECI criticism, Akhilesh Yadav, Ashok Gehlot, Bihar trends
