Bihar Election 2025: Record Turnout Shocks All — Nitish, Tejashwi or PK, Who’s Ahead?

The discussion begins with the big question: Does high turnout benefit the ruling NDA or indicate a desire for change? Deshmukh cautions that turnout alone cannot predict the verdict anymore. However, he highlights a striking shift—women voters have turned out in unprecedented numbers, almost matching men in absolute votes for the first time in Bihar’s history. He explains how Bihar’s long-standing gender gap in voting has collapsed, placing women at the center of the electoral narrative.

Nitish Kumar’s welfare-driven approach, especially the ₹10,000 women’s empowerment scheme, has played a crucial role. Deshmukh argues that this has “rebooted” Nitish Kumar’s standing among women, bringing him sharply back into political relevance. At the same time, male voter turnout has surged due to multiple competing campaigns—from Tejashwi Yadav’s focus on unemployment to Prashant Kishor’s appeal for change and migrant voter engagement.

As Deshmukh outlines, three major outcomes remain possible: a Nitish-led NDA return powered by female voters, a Tejashwi-led shift fueled by unemployment concerns, or a surprise rise of Prashant Kishor altering Bihar’s political equations.

In conclusion, Barkha Dutt notes that the massive turnout reflects a deeply energized electorate—and with multiple forces at play, the Bihar 2025 election remains wide open.