Bihar: the INC years, 1951–1972
16 Assembly elections · 1951–2025 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Bihar has voted in 16 Assembly elections between 1951 and 2025. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 8 of them — more than any rival.
Power has changed hands 7 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1951 to 1972 across 6 elections.
In 2000, Rashtriya Janata Dal broke through — 124 of 324 seats — ending Janata Dal's hold, which fell from 167 to 0.
In 2010, Janata Dal (United) broke through — 115 of 243 seats — ending Rashtriya Janata Dal's hold, which fell from 124 to 22.
In 2015, Rashtriya Janata Dal broke through — 80 of 243 seats — ending Janata Dal (United)'s hold, which fell from 115 to 71.
In 2025, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 89 of 243 seats — ending Rashtriya Janata Dal's hold, which fell from 75 to 25.
The sharpest single swing was 1977: Janata Party went from 0 to 214 seats, a gain of 214.
Janata Party's steepest fall came in 1980, from 214 seats to 0.
The closest verdict was 2020: Rashtriya Janata Dal finished just 1 seats ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Most recently, in 2025, Bharatiya Janata Party holds 89 of 243 seats on 20.1% of the vote — short of the 122-seat majority.
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seat- INC19872%
- JHP2710%
- SP207%
- IND135%
- Others187%
Indian National Congress · 41.4% of the vote · majority
- JNP21466%
- INC5718%
- IND247%
- CPI216%
- Others82%
Janata Party · 42.7% of the vote · majority
- BJP8937%
- JDU8535%
- RJD2510%
- LJPRV198%
- Others2510%
Bharatiya Janata Party · 20.1% of the vote · short of majority
Every time power changed hands
- 1977JNP took the house with 214 of 324, ending INC’s run (167 → 57).
- 1980INC took the house with 169 of 324, ending JNP’s run (214 → 0).
- 1990JD took the house with 122 of 324, ending INC’s run (196 → 71).
- 2000RJD took the house with 124 of 324, ending JD’s run (167 → 0).
- 2010JDU took the house with 115 of 243, ending RJD’s run (124 → 22).
- 2015RJD took the house with 80 of 243, ending JDU’s run (115 → 71).
- 2025BJP took the house with 89 of 243, ending RJD’s run (75 → 25).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
- Bharatiya Janata Party broke away from Janata Party in 1980.
- Rashtriya Janata Dal broke away from Janata Dal in 1997.
- Janata Dal (United) broke away from Janata Dal in 2003.
- Janata Party saw Bharatiya Janata Party break away in 1980 (formed by former Jana Sangh bloc after the Janata Party split); saw JNPSC break away in 1979; absorbed Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; absorbed Swatantra Party in 1977; absorbed BLD in 1977; took in Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; took in Swatantra Party in 1974; took in BLD in 1977; took in NCO in 1977.
- Janata Dal was formerly Janata Party (renamed 1988); saw Janata Dal (United) break away in 2003 (Samata Party + JD factions); saw Janata Dal (Secular) break away in 1999; saw Rashtriya Janata Dal break away in 1997; saw Biju Janata Dal break away in 1997; saw Samajwadi Party break away in 1992; saw Rashtriya Lok Dal break away in 1996 (via Lok Dal / Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party); saw Indian National Lok Dal break away in 1996; took in LKD in 1988.