As the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged towards a decisive victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, securing leads in over 200 of 243 constituencies, the party launched a pointed attack on Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi. The NDA, which includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and smaller allies like Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas), is poised to secure a commanding majority well above the 122-seat threshold. Within the alliance, BJP leads in 91 constituencies (having already won 15), JD(U) in 84 (with 9 wins), LJP (RV) in 20 (1 win), and other minor allies in a few seats.&nbsp;The opposition, the Mahagathbandhan, trails far behind. The RJD leads in just 25 seats (with 4 victories), Congress in five (1 win), and the Left parties in a handful of constituencies. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which initially opened leads in four seats, has fallen behind, signalling that its electoral debut may not yield meaningful gains.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rahul Gandhi! Another election, another defeat! If there were awards for electoral consistency, he’d sweep them all. At this rate, even setbacks must be wondering how he finds them so reliably. <a href="https://t.co/y4rH6g62qG">pic.twitter.com/y4rH6g62qG</a>&mdash; Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1989211930234613770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>‘95 defeats in a row’: BJP targets Rahul Gandhi</h2>&nbsp;Amid the decisive NDA leads, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya released a graphic highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s record of 95 electoral setbacks across India since he became a central campaigner for the Congress. The list spans nearly every major state and election cycle: Himachal Pradesh (2007, 2017), Punjab (2007, 2012, 2022), Gujarat (2007, 2012, 2017, 2022), Madhya Pradesh (2008, 2013, 2018, 2023), Maharashtra (2014, 2019, 2024), Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and multiple Northeast states.&nbsp;Malviya tweeted: “Rahul Gandhi! Another election, another defeat! If there were awards for electoral consistency, he'd sweep them all. At this rate, even setbacks must be wondering how he finds them so reliably.” The graphic detailed assembly and parliamentary contests where the Congress under Rahul Gandhi either lost power or failed to make significant gains, reinforcing the perception of a persistent inability to convert campaigns into victories.&nbsp;The BJP’s jab also highlighted Gandhi’s 16-day Voter Adhikar Yatra, covering 23 districts and focusing on alleged 'vote chori'. Despite this extensive mobilisation and media focus, Congress and the INDIA alliance failed to translate rhetoric into votes in Bihar, leaving the party with only six seats in the Mahagathbandhan tally.&nbsp;<h2>Counting trends vindicate NDA strategy</h2>&nbsp;Counting trends indicate a sweeping mandate for the NDA. Nitish Kumar’s governance record and BJP’s organisational machinery consolidated voter support across caste and regional lines. BJP leaders, including MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, mocked Congress further, invoking a Kabir couplet and suggesting that opposition leaders verify voter lists to confirm results.

Amid the decisive NDA leads, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya released a graphic highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s record of 95 electoral setbacks across India since he became a central campaigner for the Congress

As the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged towards a decisive victory in the Bihar Assembly elections, securing leads in over 200 of 243 constituencies, the party launched a pointed attack on Congress and its leader, Rahul Gandhi. The NDA, which includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and smaller allies like Chirag Paswan’s LJP (Ram Vilas), is poised to secure a commanding majority well above the 122-seat threshold. Within the alliance, BJP leads in 91 constituencies (having already won 15), JD(U) in 84 (with 9 wins), LJP (RV) in 20 (1 win), and other minor allies in a few seats. The opposition, the Mahagathbandhan, trails far behind. The RJD leads in just 25 seats (with 4 victories), Congress in five (1 win), and the Left parties in a handful of constituencies. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, which initially opened leads in four seats, has fallen behind, signalling that its electoral debut may not yield meaningful gains.

Amid the decisive NDA leads, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya released a graphic highlighting Rahul Gandhi’s record of 95 electoral setbacks across India since he became a central campaigner for the Congress

Bihar election 2025 results| ‘95 defeats for Rahul Gandhi’: BJP sharpens its attack on Congress after Bihar humiliation

The rise of Asaduddin Owaisi in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-election-results-2020-nda-gets-absolute-majority-with-125-seats-mahagathbandhan-settles-with-110-seats-342291">Bihar</a> politics has taken all political parties by surprise. He has not only done well but also won seats in Muslim majority constituencies.

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How a political party, which was limited to Hyderabad city, has managed to make a dent in Maharashtra's Aurangabad, Mumbai, and the recently-held assembly elections in Bihar 
 
WION's <a href="https://twitter.com/kartikeya_1975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kartikeya_1975</a> analyses the rise of AIMIM chief <a href="https://twitter.com/asadowaisi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@asadowaisi</a> and his impact on national politics <a href="https://t.co/pt2XqYKI9R">pic.twitter.com/pt2XqYKI9R</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1326931511979900928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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What is most surprising is the rise of a small city-based party in states like Bihar and Maharashtra which have no historical connection with his party. It is the political position taken by Owaisi on contemporary issues that has hit&nbsp;a chord with a certain section of the electorate in different states.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-elections-tejashwi-yadav-leader-of-single-largest-party-rjd-demands-recount-342683">Also Read:&nbsp;Tejashwi Yadav, leader of single-largest party RJD, demands recount</a>

Speaking to WION, Asaduddin said, "Muslims are disempowered and mainstream parties like Congress have failed them. Congress is not fighting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/family-run-parties-biggest-threat-to-indias-democracy-pm-modi-after-bihar-win-342464">BJP </a>enough." Owaisi said that he is being blamed by regional and national parties for cutting the secular vote, but secular parties are the ones who have been&nbsp;refraining from taking up minority issues. Political secularism is a joke," he said.&nbsp;

He also said that people should ask the question why Rahul Gandhi shifted his constituency from Amethi to Wayanad? "He shifted because of substantial Muslim presence in Wayanad," he said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/why-bihar-results-are-important-for-india-341995">Also Read:&nbsp;Why Bihar results are important for India</a>

There is some truth in Owaisi's claim. Mainstream political parties have given up on constitutional nationalism. They are shying away from issues causing anxiety in the community. National parties seem to be opposing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chirag-paswan-credits-bihar-polls-victory-to-pm-narendra-modi-342358">BJP </a>less as the national narrative has made constitutional nationalism less appealing. On the other hand, Owaisi has been taking up all issues head-on which major parties have remained silent throughout the political campaign.&nbsp;

Owaisi is also bitter with Congress. "Rahul Gandhi used to say in rallies that a man is para-dropping in these elections in a helicopter. Only Rahul Gandhi has the right to travel in helicopters," asked Owaisi. &nbsp;

He maintains that he has received support from the minority community because major political parties are not giving enough representation to the Muslims and their economic issues are not being addressed.&nbsp;

He also counters the charge that he is helping sectarian politics grow. He says that no one has asked political parties to not to speak about Muslims, but it is just so that they are not talking about them. Rise of Owaisi is also not completely out of sync with trends of the last 40 years.

Backward caste politics has been splintered into caste-based politics. Rise of BJP has led to the consolidation of the majority of Hindus under a bloc and minority politics has seen the emergence of leaders and social media who are solely taking up minority issues.&nbsp;

The rise of Asaduddin Owaisi in Bihar politics has taken all political parties by surprise. He has not only done well but also won seats in Muslim majority constituencies.

The rise of Asaduddin Owaisi in Bihar politics has taken all political parties by surprise. He has not only done well but also won seats in Muslim majority constituencies. How a political party, which was limited to Hyderabad city, has managed to make a dent in Maharashtra's Aurangabad, Mumbai, and the recently-held assembly elections in Bihar WION's @kartikeya_1975 analyses the rise of AIMIM chief @asadowaisi and his impact on national politics pic.twitter.com/pt2XqYKI9R — WION (@WIONews) November 12, 2020 × What is most surprising is the rise of a small city-based party in states like Bihar and Maharashtra which have no historical connection with his party. It is the political position taken by Owaisi on contemporary issues that has hit a chord with a certain section of the electorate in different states. Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav, leader of single-largest party RJD, demands recount Speaking to WION, Asaduddin said, "Muslims are disempowered and mainstream parties like Congress have failed them. Congress is not fighting BJP enough." Owaisi said that he is being blamed by regional and national parties for cutting the secular vote, but secular parties are the ones who have been refraining from taking up minority issues. Political secularism is a joke," he said. He also said that people should ask the question why Rahul Gandhi shifted his constituency from Amethi to Wayanad? "He shifted because of substantial Muslim presence in Wayanad," he said. Also Read: Why Bihar results are important for India There is some truth in Owaisi's claim. Mainstream political parties have given up on constitutional nationalism. They are shying away from issues causing anxiety in the community. National parties seem to be opposing BJP less as the national narrative has made constitutional nationalism less appealing. On the other hand, Owaisi has been taking up all issues head-on which major parties have remained silent throughout the political campaign. Owaisi is also bitter with Congress. "Rahul Gandhi used to say in rallies that a man is para-dropping in these elections in a helicopter. Only Rahul Gandhi has the right to travel in helicopters," asked Owaisi. He maintains that he has received support from the minority community because major political parties are not giving enough representation to the Muslims and their economic issues are not being addressed. He also counters the charge that he is helping sectarian politics grow. He says that no one has asked political parties to not to speak about Muslims, but it is just so that they are not talking about them. Rise of Owaisi is also not completely out of sync with trends of the last 40 years. Backward caste politics has been splintered into caste-based politics. Rise of BJP has led to the consolidation of the majority of Hindus under a bloc and minority politics has seen the emergence of leaders and social media who are solely taking up minority issues.

Political secularism is a farce, says Asaduddin Owaisi

Bihar election 2020 results have defied exit poll predictions. While PM Narendra Modi helped to overcome the anti-incumbency, Nitish Kumar has won and lost at the same time. Here is Kartikeya Sharma with his opinion on the Bihar Election 2020.

Bihar election defy exit poll predictions | Opinion